Refereeing

LYON manager Paulo Fonseca faces a SEVEN-MONTH ban after squaring up to referee Benoit Millot. The French side actually beat Brest 2-1 in Ligue 1 but drama unfolded in the dying moments of the game. Paulo Fonseca faces a seven-month ban after squaring up to referee Benoit MillotCredit: AFPFonseca went head to head with ref MillotCredit: AFPFonseca was previously shown yellow earlier in the game but he was sent off after Millot went over to the VAR screen to check for a Brest penalty. The ex-Porto defender was livid with Millot, who then brandished the red card to send Fonseca off. Fonseca squared up to the official in wild scenes and now faces a suspension over seven months, per the league’s rules. His outburst falls under LFP’s Article 8 regarding “intimidating or threatening behaviour.”READ MORE IN footballThe rulebook states his behaviour was “intimidating, all words, gesture and/or attitude that could inspire fear. “Is threatening, all words, gesture and/or attitude expressing the idea of ​​prejudice to the physical integrity of a person.” Any head coach or club executive found guilty of this towards an official during a game faces a seven-match ban, as per the ruleset.Fonseca, who joined Lyon in January after being sacked by AC Milan, apologised for his outburst. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHe said: “I apologise for this gesture. I shouldn’t do that. Football makes us do bad gestures. The match was very difficult.”Playing against Brest is always difficult, they are a physical team, they defended a lot. These are very important points.”‘That’s why I’m the manager’ – Ruben Amorim hits back at Wayne Rooney as Man Utd boss aims to win Premier LeagueLyon captain Alexandre Lacazette added: “It’s part of football. “I think he’ll regret this gesture but we’ll see what the disciplinary committee says.”It’s tension. There are a lot of questionable choices. When you live the match, sometimes you can do things. We’re all behind the coach.”Lyon are now sixth in the table with PSG leading second-place Marseille by 13 points. Fonseca had to apologise for his outburstCredit: Getty More

SOMETHING is not right with our officials at the moment.Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts’ first-half challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta was a clear red card for serious foul play.Jean-Philippe Mateta was kicked in the head by Liam Roberts in Palace’s FA Cup clash with MillwallCredit: REXReferee Michael Oliver sensationally needed VAR to give Roberts his marching ordersCredit: GETTYOliver eventually sent Roberts off after seeing the replayCredit: REXThe Crystal Palace striker was kicked in the head and it was an obvious instance of endangering a player’s safety with excessive force and/or brutality.Yet, referee Michael Oliver did not even show a yellow card. We had to wait for VAR to intervene and recommend a review.Even then, it took more than TWO MINUTES for a decision to be made.READ MORE ON MATETA3It seems that the officials on the pitch are relying too much on VAR at the moment —  for me, that is not refereeing.I can only conclude that Michael did not realise at the time just how dangerous the challenge was. He has been our best referee but he seems to be lacking in confidence at the moment.And that happens with players AND referees.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSJean-Phillipe Mateta is thankfully recovering from the horror tackleCredit: REUTERSHis incorrect red card for Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly at Wolves in January was rightly overturned.At Selhurst Park yesterday,  a three-man VAR team led by Nick Hopton — who is not a Premier League referee — made sure that the correct decision was made in the end.’Endangered his life’ – Crystal Palace owner gives Mateta injury update live on BBC and slams ‘reckless’ Millwall starBut why did it take them so long? Even in real time, that was a clear red card.It reminded me of the challenge by West Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher that left Patrick Battiston of France badly hurt in the 1982 World Cup.What on earth was the Millwall goalkeeper thinking, rushing out like that?Players have a duty of care towards their fellow professionals, and Mateta’s safety was certainly endangered.Palace chairman Steve Parish rightly didn’t mince his words on the tackle, saying: “That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish condemned the tackle live on the BBCCredit: BBC”And he needs to have a long, hard look at himself that lad. “Because he’s endangering a fellow professional, maybe even his life, with a challenge like that.it’s a dreadful challenge and why the referee needs to go the screen, I’ve no idea. READ MORE SUN STORIES”Forget about him being a football player, he is a human being. That is not a normal challenge. “If you’re kicking someone in the head with the full force, God knows what damage has been done to him.” More

TOENAIL offsides are set to be eradicated in a proposed shake-up of football laws.Arsene Wenger and refs’ chief David Elleray are behind the rule change to be discussed by the International FA Board today.A new shake-up to get rid of toenail offsides is set to be introducedCredit: GettyPlenty of very tight goals have been chalked off by marginal offsidesCredit: YouTube / The Emirates FA CupIt would see the offside line determined by the upper torso of attacking and defending players. SunSport revealed in 2020 how former Arsenal boss Wenger, now Fifa’s head of global football development, was pushing for a ‘daylight’ rule.That would mean players are deemed onside if any part of their body overlapped the last defender.But Wenger and other Ifab chiefs agree such a system would balance offside calls too far in favour of the attacking side.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd trials for this new upper torso law have taken place over the past five years.The new idea will make offside calls easy to be determined — whether it is in the Prem or on park pitches.And it is likely to be endorsed at today’s meeting in Belfast, where video reviews and editing the six-second goalkeeper limit are also on the agenda.SunSport has been told Ifab is ready to endorse formal trials from as soon as next season.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd a new offside law could potentially be introduced within three years.The development comes as Semi-Automated Offside Technology was used in English football for the first time in Aston Villa’s FA Cup tie with Cardiff last night. Fans left stunned at worst VAR offside line in history as they joke ‘absolutely NOT rigged’ – but all is not as it seemsIt incorporates 30 special high-speed cameras and will be introduced for the last nine weeks of the Prem season.Ifab members will today also bring in-stadium referee announcements of VAR decisions into law.Offsides could be judged on the upper torso to make it easier to determineCredit: BBCSemi-Automated Offside Technology is now being tested in EnglandCredit: UefaIn-stadium referee announcements of VAR decisions are also coming into the lawbookCredit: Sky Sports More

FOOTBALL lawmakers are considering a huge rule change which could have a major impact on time-wasting goalkeepers.As things stand, under the current iteration of the laws, goalkeepers are permitted to hold the ball in their hands for six seconds.Major changes could come in regarding how long goalkeepers can hold the ball for – and the punishment for breaching itCredit: GettyReferees may have to count down the final five seconds on their handCredit: AlamyIn reality, though, the rule is very rarely – if ever – enforced.In many matches, goalkeepers will often be seen holding the ball for 20 seconds or even longer – especially to wind down the clock towards the end.There are two reasons why the six-second rule is hardly pulled up on.Firstly, after six seconds, goalkeepers are often still surrounded by opposition players – especially at set pieces.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAnd secondly, the punishment of an indirect free-kick in the penalty area seemed disproportionate to the crime. Now, though, plans are “progressing positively” towards a shake-up of the legislation.In the new version of the rule, the length of time a goalkeeper can hold the ball in his hands would increase from six seconds to eight seconds.There would also be the introduction of a five-second countdown on the referee’s hand to signal publicly how long the goalkeeper has left to release the ball. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd the final edit would be surrounding the sanctions.The indirect free-kick inside the area would be scrapped.How Man Utd could clinch a win in Fulham FA Cup clash – Expert’s best bets | Weekend WagerInstead, the possibility of a throw-in or a corner to the opposition team is being discussed. A trial is taking place this season in the Premier League 2 with the eight-second rule and corners awarded, with another trial in Malta.And the feedback to Ifab – the International Football Association Board, who oversee the laws of football – is said to be positive.A change to the rules is unlikely to come into effect for the 2025-26 season.So it is expected there will be another season of trials with the suggestion it could come in for 2026-27.TOE NO-GO IN OFFSIDE REJIGEXCLUSIVE by MARTIN LIPTONTOENAIL offsides are set to be eradicated in a proposed shake-up of football laws.Arsene Wenger and refs’ chief David Elleray are behind the rule change to be discussed by the International FA Board today.It would see the offside line determined by the upper torso of attacking and defending players. SunSport revealed in 2020 how former Arsenal boss Wenger, now Fifa’s head of global football development, was pushing for a ‘daylight’ rule, meaning players would be deemed onside if any part of their body overlapped the last defender.Trials have taken place over the past five years, with Wenger and other Ifab chiefs agreeing such a system would balance offside calls too far in favour of the attacking side.The new idea, likely to be endorsed at today’s meeting in Belfast, will make offside calls easy to be determined — whether it is in the Prem or on park pitches.SunSport has been told Ifab is ready to endorse formal trials from as soon as next season, with potentially a new offside law introduced within three years.The development comes as Semi-Automated Offside Technology was used in English football for the first time in Aston Villa’s FA Cup tie with Cardiff last night. It incorporates 30 special high-speed cameras and will be introduced for the last nine weeks of the Prem season.Ifab members will today also bring in-stadium referee announcements of VAR decisions into law.JUST NOT ON… OR OFFIfab will meet in Belfast on Saturday for their annual general meeting – with video support systems and updates to the offside rule also on the agenda.Video support enables coaches to challenge referee decisions – similar to tennis or cricket – and the referee can then watch the video back of their decision and uphold the original or overrule their call. The format, designed for competitions that do not have the capabilities for VAR, has been tested in Fifa’s Women’s Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups.The offside rule update could give greater advantage to attacking players.READ MORE SUN STORIESArsene Wenger – Fifa’s chief of global football development – had advocated the ‘daylight’ rule, which has been trialled in U18s football in Italy, but that is understood to give too much advantage to attackers because it requires any part of the attacker’s body being level with the second-last defender.Instead, a new concept looking at the upper torso is set to be introduced, SunSport revealed. Another update to the offside law could also come into force with the ‘daylight’ ruleCredit: Getty More