Another week, another VAR controversy. This time it’s not a tight offside call or a subtle shirt pull. A match official made a hand gesture. What it meant is unclear. What is clear: Fifa has launched an investigation.
The incident happened during a midweek fixture. The official, name still under wraps, was caught on camera making a sign after reviewing a penalty decision. Was it a signal to the referee? A coded instruction? Or just a nervous tic? Fifa isn’t saying. But the governing body’s disciplinary committee is now involved.
Sources inside the FA tell me they are frustrated. Not by the gesture itself. They are frustrated by the lack of a clear rulebook. “We have 300 pages on handball,” one senior figure said, “but nothing on a referee’s hand signals.” The FA has now formally requested that the International Football Association Board (IFAB) clarify what officials can and cannot do with their hands during a VAR review.
This is not an isolated issue. VAR officials have been given more discretion in recent seasons. But with discretion comes confusion. Players, managers, and fans are left guessing. The gesture in question was subtle. A closed fist, then an open palm? Some say it meant “no foul”. Others claim it indicated a secret agreement with the broadcast director.
Paranoia is running high. One former Premier League referee told me: “We are in dangerous territory. If officials start using private signals, trust is broken.” The FA agrees. They want a published code of conduct. Every gesture must be defined. No ambiguity.
Fifa’s investigation will take weeks. The outcome could be a simple warning. Or it could lead to new rules. But the UK’s football authorities are not waiting. They have already drafted a proposal for IFAB’s next meeting. It outlines exactly what VAR officials can and cannot signal.
The timing is awkward. The Premier League is pushing for greater transparency. They recently trialled open microphones for VAR conversations. That trial was deemed a success in some quarters. But this gesture scandal threatens to undo that progress. “It’s one step forward, two steps back,” a league insider admitted.
Labour’s shadow sports minister has weighed in. “Football must remain fair and transparent,” they said in a statement. “Supporters deserve to understand every decision.” The government is watching closely. There have been private discussions about introducing statutory regulation of refereeing standards. That would be a radical step.
For now, all eyes are on Fifa. The letter from the FA is on the desk of Gianni Infantino. The reply will set the tone for the next era of VAR. Will it be a shake-up? Or just more hand-wringing?
A veteran VAR operator told me off the record: “We all know what’s really happening. But no one will say it out loud.” He refused to elaborate. The game of gestures continues.
