New VAR system with tennis and cricket-style ‘challenges’ is ‘set to be trialled in new football competitions’ – with FIFA’s legendary refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina backing the change

Trials of a new video refereeing system that sees coaches challenge refereeing calls they believe are wrong have been expanded. 

The new system – Football Video Support (FVS) – sees both coaches handed two challenges that they can issue, in order to utilise video technology to reach the correct conclusion. 

This is different to the current system, in which Video Assistant Referees (VARs) review and assess decisions made by an on-field officials, before potentially recommending they evaluate their decision at an on-field monitor if necessary. 

It involves teams being allowed a total of two challenges per match for situations such as goals, penalties, red cards and in cases of mistaken identity. If they win their challenge, as is the case in other sports, they would retain that review, and any unchallenged erroneous decision would stand. 

Managers initiate the challenge by twirling their finger and handing a card to the fourth official before describing what they would like reviewing by the referee at the pitch-side monitor. Players can recommend a review but the final decision lies with their coach. 

VAR is a point of controversy in modern football, with many pointing to extensive delays for checks such as the stoppage in Southampton‘s draw with Brighton which lasted almost five minutes, as reasons for potential change. 

FVS is similar to the style of challenge-review used in other sports such as cricket and tennis

Yet VAR and FVS are designed to be distinct from one another; the latter is designed specifically for those competitions or facilities that lack the resources for huge numbers of cameras, and instead rely on four or fewer. 

Iconic referee Pierluigi Collina, now the chairman of FIFA’s referees committee, was keen to trial FVS and conduct futher testing, and has clearly been successful in doing so. 

The system was tested at the recent Under-17 and Under-20 Women’s World Cup competitions earlier in 2024, having been given the green light back in March. 

‘We are at the beginning of the trial and the experiences at both the U20 and U17 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be carefully analysed but so far, we haven’t noticed anything unexpected,’ Collina told ESPN last month. 

‘Several FIFA member associations already showed the interest to participate to the trial.

‘Making clear that FVS is not VAR is critical, in particular in terms of expectation. Because of the limited number of cameras, FVS won’t be able to show what VAR can show.

‘Offside is an example: without cameras properly positioned, only clear offside can be spotted. This makes the on-field decision important too.

‘FVS is designed to work with a limited camera set up, ideally up to four to five. With more cameras, the process of checking all of the footage and available angles may become very long as, and differently from VAR, there are not any video match officials selecting those clips to be seen by the referee.’

Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s head of referees, gave an update on the testing process for FVS

Following the announcement earlier this year it was reported that there had been preliminary concerns over the new FVS system. 

A key consideration will be how managers, players and fans react when they lose a review, and if the system is somehow abused, such as to tactically waste time. 

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has met to discuss updates on trials to other existing rules and regulations in the game. 

Among these trials included assessment of the amount of time for which a goalkeeper could hold onto the ball, as well as one looking at the fact only captains were allowed to talk to the referee. 

Presentations were also reportedly given on announcement in stadiums for the lengthier VAR decisions, bodycams for referees, and automated offsides.