Alan Shearer calls for major rule change in Spain vs Argentina World Cup final

Alan Shearer highlighted a major refereeing issue from the Spain vs Argentina World Cup final and called for a rule change to reduce time-wasting at corner kicks. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time on Sunday, with Ferran Torres scoring in the 106th minute and Argentina’s first shot on goal arriving in the 117th. Shearer said referee Slavko Vincic’s pre-play warning to Facundo Medina occurred before the ball was technically in play, which he argued should be handled differently. He referenced IFAB clarifications approved for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, allowing VAR reviews for attacking offences before the ball is in play when they directly affect goals, penalties, or discipline, with set pieces retaken if needed. The proposal targets grappling and similar holding near corners, building on existing VAR protocols in set-piece scenarios.