Club World Cup: Collina Calls for Braver Referees
- Premier League assistant referees are receiving updated guidance regarding offside calls, following a recent injury to Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi.
- The enhanced SAO (Semi-Automated Offside) protocol will not apply to situations where a player not playing the ball is offside, or in crowded scenarios.
- Collina, a former World Cup final referee, stated that assistant referees have been instructed to keep their flags down in cases of doubt.
Pierluigi Collina is calling on referees to be braver with offside calls, a move aimed at preventing injuries and improving the flow of the game after a recent incident involving Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi. This updated guidance for Premier League officials focuses on proactively flagging clear offsides, even when the match is still unfolding, and is a response to the unintended consequences of hesitancy. collina, a former World Cup final referee, acknowledges that VAR has its place. Though, he wants assistants to trust their instincts to make quicker calls in obvious situations. News Directory 3 provides the latest updates on this critical shift in the Premier League.Will this lead to more decisive officiating? Discover what’s next.
Premier League Referees Get New Offside Guidance After Injury
Updated June 12, 2025
Premier League assistant referees are receiving updated guidance regarding offside calls, following a recent injury to Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi. Awoniyi suffered an abdominal injury after colliding with a post during a match against Leicester. The incident occurred while Awoniyi was chasing the ball despite being in a clear offside position that was not immediately flagged.
The enhanced SAO (Semi-Automated Offside) protocol will not apply to situations where a player not playing the ball is offside, or in crowded scenarios. Fifa’s referees’ committee chairman Pierluigi Collina emphasized the need for officials to trust their judgment.
Collina, a former World Cup final referee, stated that assistant referees have been instructed to keep their flags down in cases of doubt. This approach allows VAR (Video Assistant Referee) to review the play. However,Collina acknowledged that this practice has led to unintended consequences,with assistant referees erring too far on the side of caution.
To address this, assistant referees are now being encouraged to be more decisive in raising the flag when a player is clearly offside. ”Two meters offside cannot lead to a doubt,” Collina said.
What’s next
The Premier League hopes the updated guidance will lead to fewer injuries and more accurate offside calls,improving the overall fairness and safety of the game.