FIFA Proposes Football Video Support for Coach Challenges on Referee Decisions

FIFA hopes to receive permission from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in the short term to add Football Video Support (FVS) to professional football. This would allow trainers to challenge referees’ decisions during the match.

Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA refereeing committee, told ESPN. The new system works without a VAR official. Trainers may request to see a review. This is not an extension of the current VAR system, but an alternative.

Introducing: Football Video Support 🎥

At the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina spoke about the success of trialling Football Video Support at the recent Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup™.

Find out how the system works: pic.twitter.com/rQoV5TktTY

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) May 17, 2024

“Coaches have a limited number of review requests and lose them if they are not successful,” the Italian points out. “Therefore, they are careful not to waste review requests during the match. They may make a kind of ‘last stand’ for an incident that occurs at the very end of the match, but that would not necessarily provide a tactical advantage .”

FIFA calls for expansion of VAR system

The FVS system was already tested during the World Cup for women in the under-17 and under-20 age categories, and before that during the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup. In March, FIFA received approval for testing this system and now the football association wants to expand to other competitions.

Pro Shots

“We are only at the beginning of the trial and the experiences at the Women’s Under-20 and Under-17 World Cup are being carefully analyzed, but so far we have not noticed anything unexpected,” Collina continues. FIFA must first present a report with its findings at the next meeting. “If IFAB gives permission, there will be several competitions with FVS next year.”

Competitions with fewer resources

The top competitions are not initially eligible for the FVS system, because the ‘competitions with fewer resources’ are given priority. Ideally in competitions where there are fewer than four cameras available. “It is crucial to make it clear that FVS is not VAR, especially in terms of expectations,” the former referee points out.

So what is it? “FVS is designed to work with a limited camera setup. With more cameras, the process of checking all the footage and available angles can become very long because, unlike VAR, there are no video match officials selecting those clips sent by the referee should be looked at.”

Pro Shots

With FVS, the trainer asks for a new assessment of a decision. There will be a repeat of a replay operator. The referee is therefore not called to the side by a colleague, but is told that a coach wants a specific moment to be reexamined. During the test rounds, this was done with a video screen outside the lines. Any changes to the implementation do not seem to be an option for the time being.

Influential

The responsibility of requesting a replay review intentionally does not lie with the players. “Giving the referee the opportunity to initiate a review would mean putting him/her under extra pressure as players would try to convince the referee to go to the monitor. For this reason, coaches are responsible for decision to request a review,” concludes Collina.

FIFA’s New Football Video Support: A Game-Changer or Just More Fuss?

Well folks, it looks like FIFA’s on the verge of introducing something that could shake up the beautiful game—if they get the green light from the International Football Association Board (IFAB), that is! We’re talking about a snazzy new initiative: Football Video Support (FVS). Sounds great, right? I mean, who doesn’t want to relive that moment when your team was robbed by a referee who clearly lost his glasses at half-time?

Introducing: Football Video Support 🎥

At the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina spoke about the success of trialling Football Video Support at the recent Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup™.

Find out how the system works: pic.twitter.com/rQoV5TktTY

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) May 17, 2024

What’s the Idea?

According to Pierluigi Collina, the big cheese at FIFA’s refereeing committee, coaches will now be able to challenge referees’ decisions during matches. Yes, you heard it right! No more shouting at your TV screens—now you can shout at the pitch and expect something to happen. But before you start thinking this is all going to be sunshine and rainbows, hold your horses: the coaches only have a limited number of review requests, and if they’re unsuccessful, they’re not getting those chances back. Talk about high stakes! It’s like having three lives in a video game—waste one, and you better hope you don’t run into a boss at the end!

VAR? Never Heard of It!

Now, FIFA is making it crystal clear: FVS is not an extension of the current VAR system. Let’s just say, if VAR is the elegant, sophisticated older sibling who went to university, FVS is the fun-loving younger sibling who can’t pronounce ‘perspective’ right. The FVS system works with fewer resources—ideal for matches with fewer than four cameras. It’s refreshing that FIFA is finally acknowledging that not all competitions have the luxury of a replay operator with a PhD in video analysis!

How It Works

In this new democratic setup, coaches can ask for a review of a specific decision. But instead of a video match official picking out clips, the referee will get a nudge that someone wants a particular incident reevaluated. So you won’t see them scuttling off to the sidelines to consult with a colleague. Instead, it’s like getting a text message saying, “Hey, check this out—don’t ignore it!” However, given it’s FIFA, I’m half-expecting a “message not delivered” notification halfway through extra time!

The Coaches vs Referees Showdown

The best part? Coaches will be the only ones with the authority to initiate reviews. They’re taking the heat off referees, sparing them the pressure of trying to decipher which player is front-flipping in their face while pleading for a second look at that penalty call. Brava, FIFA! Imagine the referees getting cornered by players desperately trying to persuade them to check the monitor like a kid trying to convince their parents for a puppy. The chaos that could ensue would be hilarious…but we’ll save the slapstick for another day.

Looking Ahead

FIFA is keen to roll FVS out in various competitions if IFAB gives them the thumbs up. Meanwhile, they’re scrutinizing all the data gathered from trial runs at the Women’s World Cup and the Youth Cup. Simply put, if you thought you’d seen the last of VAR complaints, think again! With FVS, we might just be on the brink of a new era of football nitpicking.

So, will FVS revolutionize the way football is officiated? Or will it introduce a level of scrutiny that makes supporters’ heads spin faster than a referee’s whistle? In the world of football, one thing is for certain—there will always be a bit of drama. And if there’s one thing we can agree on, it’s that football without a bit of rowdiness would just be, well…soccer.

FIFA is eagerly anticipating obtaining the green light from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in the near future to implement Football Video Support (FVS) in professional football matches. This innovative system would grant coaches the authority to challenge referees’ decisions mid-game, introducing a new dynamic to game strategy.

Pierluigi Collina, the chairman of the FIFA refereeing committee, highlighted the distinction of this system in an interview with ESPN. Unlike the traditional VAR system that involves a dedicated official in a booth, FVS allows coaches to directly request a review of specific decisions during the game—an alternative approach that aims to enhance the decision-making process without complicating it further.

At the 74th FIFA Congress held in Bangkok, Collina elaborated on the recent successful trials of FVS conducted during the prestigious Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup™, indicating a promising beginning for this new technology. He stated, “Coaches have a limited number of review requests and lose them if they are unsuccessful,” emphasizing the need for coaches to strategize wisely when deciding when to challenge a call.

FIFA calls for expansion of VAR system

The FVS system has already seen preliminary testing during the Women’s World Cup for both under-17 and under-20 age categories, as well as the aforementioned Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup. Following the initial approval for testing back in March, FIFA is now keen to broaden the scope of this system to include additional competitions, demonstrating their commitment to evolving the officiating landscape in football.

As Collina points out, “We are only at the beginning of the trial, and the experiences at the Women’s U20 and U17 World Cup are being carefully analyzed.” Awaiting a comprehensive report of findings, FIFA plans to present these insights at their next meeting, as they seek IFAB’s permission to proceed with incorporating FVS in various competitions as early as next year.

Competitions with fewer resources

Initially, the FVS system is not intended for the top-tier competitions; instead, it prioritizes ‘competitions with fewer resources,’ specifically those with limited camera setups—ideally, those equipped with fewer than four cameras. Collina stresses, “It is crucial to make it clear that FVS is not VAR, especially in terms of expectations,” clarifying the intended differentiation between the two systems.

So what is FVS? “FVS is designed to work with a limited camera setup,” Collina explained. The absence of video match officials selecting the clips for review could potentially lead to longer processes during matches with extensive camera coverage, contrasting sharply with the streamlined approach of FVS.

The mechanics of FVS allow a coach to formally request a review of a specific decision. Importantly, the referee is not summoned to a side monitor by a colleague; rather, the system notifies the referee that a coach is keen to examine a particular moment. During test rounds, this review process utilized a video screen situated outside the field of play.

Influential

By design, the responsibility to request a review does not rest with the players, which helps maintain the referee’s authority. Collina concludes, “Giving the referee the opportunity to initiate a review would mean putting him/her under extra pressure,” underscoring the importance of having coaches take charge of the decision to seek a video review instead.

Ing carefully analyzed.” ⁤The objective is to ensure that ​any decision to⁢ expand the FVS system to other competitions is​ based on solid data ⁢and thorough evaluation⁢ of its effectiveness.

### What Makes FVS Different from VAR?

While VAR has often been⁢ criticized ⁣for its lengthy reviews ⁣and the pressure it places​ on referees, FVS⁢ aims for ‍efficiency and clarity. As Collina explained, “FVS is designed to ‌work with a limited camera setup.” This⁢ approach is particularly advantageous for competitions that lack the extensive technology usually present in top-tier events. Thus, FVS is geared towards matches that may only have a ‍handful⁤ of cameras—an essential factor that could enhance the experience in⁤ grassroots and less-resourced competitions.

### The‍ Review Request ‌Process

Here’s ⁣how it works: If a coach feels a‍ decision made by the referee warrants a second​ look, they have the authority to request a review. Instead of the referee‍ running over ⁢to check a monitor—like in traditional VAR ⁢scenarios—the⁤ coach signals⁢ to the match ​officials, essentially asking them to revisit a specific moment in the game. This‌ method alleviates some of the burden from referees, allowing them to focus on the match without being⁢ overwhelmed by players pleading for replays.

### Who Holds the Power?

Another crucial aspect of the FVS system is that only coaches can initiate a review. This dynamic means that players ‍will no longer be expected to lobby ‍referees for calls, preventing potential​ confrontations and​ misunderstandings on the pitch. According to Collina, “Giving the referee the opportunity ⁢to initiate⁣ a review would mean putting ‌him/her under extra pressure.” By placing this responsibility on coaches, FIFA hopes to streamline communications and maintain a more manageable environment for referees, potentially reducing on-field tension.

### Future Prospects and Implications

With FVS set to‌ be ‌tested further pending approval ​from IFAB,⁣ the broader implications for football officiating could be significant. The introduction of such a system reflects FIFA’s commitment to innovation in sports technology, aiming to refine and improve the officiating process. However, the question remains—will this lead to a⁢ higher number of reviews and⁣ further complaints, or will FVS streamline ‌the way calls‍ are handled ⁢while preserving the fast pace of the game?

As FIFA prepares to expand‍ its FVS testing, the world of football is left on ‍the edge of its seat, curious to see how this new initiative will unfold. Whether it’s a game-changer or just another wrinkle in the ongoing narrative of football officiating, one thing is for sure: ​with FVS, the drama of the beautiful game will never‍ truly be out of the spotlight.