FIFA has conducted the initial trials of a new VAR system that allows coaches to challenge a referee's decision, marking a departure from the previous setup where only video officials could initiate reviews. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the governing body for football rules, has endorsed an additional 'VAR light' system at its AGM in March 2023. This streamlined version, known as Football Video Support (VS), is designed to be more accessible across the global football landscape.
Under the VS system, teams can challenge decisions related to goals, penalties, red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. Each team is granted two challenges per match, with the opportunity to retain the review if successful. The responsibility of requesting a review falls on the coach, who signals the challenge by twirling a finger in the air and presenting a card to the fourth official. The coach specifies the type of incident to be reviewed, although players can suggest a review, the final decision rests with the coach. A dedicated replay operator ensures that the correct footage is displayed during the review process.
Pierluigi Collina, FIFA's head of referees, expressed satisfaction with the initial tests conducted during the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup in Zurich. Collina highlighted the positive outcome of the trials at the FIFA Congress in Bangkok, emphasizing the intention to further test the system in youth competitions. While the challenge system is currently limited to internal FIFA trials, there is no provision for leagues or competitions to opt-in, and there are no immediate plans to introduce it at the elite level of the game.
VS is not positioned as a replacement for the advanced VAR system utilized in top-tier competitions, where sophisticated technology and officiating resources are available. However, the introduction of the 'VAR light' system offers hope to leagues that have expressed interest in implementing a challenge-based review process. Serie A, for instance, had proposed the adoption of challenges in 2020, citing potential benefits in reducing disruptions during matches.
If the ongoing trials prove successful and progress through the regulatory stages to be included in the Laws of the Game, leagues may have the option to adopt the 'VAR light' system as an alternative to the full-fledged VAR setup. This development signals a potential shift in how match officiating and video review processes are managed in football competitions worldwide.
