VAR was introduced to the Premier League in 2019, but the system has been beset by problems since then, with FIFA now looking at ways to improve it as coaches and fans become increasingly frustrated
Premier League managers could be handed the chance to challenge refereeing decisions as FIFA considers revamping VAR.
The English top-flight introduced VAR ahead of the 2019/2020 season, though it has been beset by problems since then. Managers, players, pundits and fans have become exasperated by the system.
The PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer Howard Webb has attempted to clear up the misconceptions around VAR, but has also been forced to make frequent apologies over decisions by his officials.
As it stands, the system can only be used by referees themselves, with VARs launching reviews of incidents. But that could now be set to change, with FIFA considering allowing coaches to challenge decisions themselves.
According to ESPN, FIFA is hoping to be granted permission from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to continue trials of Football Video Support (FVS). That system would allow coaches to challenge decisions.
FVS has already been used at this years’ U20 and U17 FIFA Women’s World Cups, having been approved for testing by the IFAB in March. It is thought FIFA now want to expand the system to other competitions.
The system gives coaches the chance to make up to two challenges per match if they feel an error has been made. The referee then goes to the side of the pitch to view a replay of the incident.
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Unlike with VAR, there is only a replay operator who cues up the video. The match referee alone then assesses his own decision and isn’t told he has made a clear and obvious error in advance.
At present, the challenge system is only intended for use in leagues with fewer resources, ideally with no more than four cameras. The chairman of FIFA’s referees’ committee Pierluigi Collina has insisted the FVS system has received positive feedback from the tournaments it has been used in.
“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.
“As agreed, FIFA will present a report at the next IFAB ABM and request to continue the trial on a wider basis. Several FIFA member associations already showed the interest to participate to the trial. If IFAB will give the permission, next year there will be several competitions using FVS.”
“Even though [the U20 and U17 FIFA Women’s World Cup] was the first experience, both for the teams and the match officials, we feel that the outcome was very positive. We conducted a survey with the coaches after the tournament which showed that FVS was positively received and considered worthy to be used in the future.”
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