EFL could have managers’ ‘challenge’ system introduced in low-cost alternative to VAR
LOWER division clubs could see a “challenge” system in operation to overturn refereeing bloopers.
Lawmakers on the International FA Board have agreed to extend the trials of their new “Football Video Support” system on a global basis.
In a variation of VAR, the VS system is designed for competitions with only a handful of cameras.
Coaches are allowed to call a challenge, with the referee then reviewing the incident on a pitch-side monitor, with the footage supplied by a video technician.
As in cricket and tennis, successful challenges are retained with each team allowed two unsuccessful challenges per match.
The system was trialled at the recent under-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic, where England finished fourth.
England coach Natalie Henderson successfully challenged a goal awarded to Mexico in their second group match, with the referee agreeing the ball had not crossed the line after a video review.
And now Ifab bosses want to roll out what they view as a “low cost alternative to VAR” to both smaller countries and lower tier competitions in wealthier nations.
Ifab technical director and former Premier League ref David Elleray said: “It is mainly designed for competitions where you’ve only got one, two, three or maximum four cameras.
“So Leagues One and Two could be in that, or the National League, or whatever.
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“And what it does emphasise – and away from VAR – is the clear and obvious concept.
“Because when you’ve only got one camera it’s got to be pretty clear and obvious for the decision to be changed.
“So it’ll either be at the top end of smaller countries or lower down in bigger countries.
“FIFA have tested it, it’s working very well and therefore we will now explore where else it could be trialled, probably for next season.”
EFL clubs have so far been resistant to bringing in VAR, with cost one issue.
Many fans, though, have compared the EFL match-day experience favourably to the situation in the Prem when supporters frequently complained of feeling “in the dark” over VAR reviews.
But Patrick Nelson, chief executive of the Irish FA who will host Ifab’s formal AGM in March that will confirm the policy, said: “We need to emphasise that it’s not VAR.
“It’s different from VAR but it’s an alternative to it. And it relies upon the challenge system being promoted by the coaches.
“In countries who have got VAR, three or four levels down the pyramid you might again have leagues with only one or two cameras.
“We’re talking about two challenges per coach per game and it’s up to the coaches to determine when they want the referee to come over to the side and to take a look at something.
“So we’re extending the trials on it and we’re trying to learn more about it. And as the price will come down, it will get democratised and hopefully it will get rolled out further.”
But Ifab pushed back at the idea that the introduction of the system could eventually see a “hybrid” version of VAR, with video refs determining offside and line calls and subjective decisions open to challenge
Elleray added: “There’s no reason to have challenges with VAR because the video match officials check every single incident.
“So there’s no need for the coach to say ‘please will you check if that was a penalty?’ because that happens automatically.
“But with Video Support, because there’s no VAR checking, then nothing is looked at until somebody asks you to look at it – so it’s completely different.”