A simplified alternative to the video assistant referee (VAR) system will be used on a trial basis at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup at which New Zealand will compete.
The tournament in Colombia will use Football Video Support (VS) as FIFA continues to explore the best ways to use of technology to support referees.
The decision to use VS follows a successful initial trial at the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup in Zurich, Switzerland, in May.
FIFA has since confirmed it use at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup which takes place from August 31 to September 22, 2024.
READ MORE: New Zealand learn group opponents at FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup >>>>
Main photo credit: FIFA.com.
What is Football Video Support?
While the VAR system has been adopted in more than 200 competitions globally, spanning 65 member associations, FIFA says it has received numerous requests from member associations who want an alternative, cost-effective way to support match officials with technology.
In response, FIFA has developed the VS which, unlike VAR, does not use dedicated Video Match Officials and therefore does not automatically check all match-changing incidents.
Instead, the onus falls on the two head coaches who will be allowed to make a limited number of review requests per match when they feel there has been a clear and obvious error in match-changing incidents such as goal/no goal, penalty/no penalty, direct red card or mistaken identity.
“Football Video Support is an answer to the request to provide football with a more affordable technology which might be implemented in competitions with a limited budget,” Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, said.
“VS and VAR can be used for the same kind of incidents but cannot be compared as they are designed for completely different scenarios. The outcome of the trial at the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup, involving 36 matches on two pitches, was very positive and we are happy to give this system a further trial in Colombia.”
How does VS work?
More information about how the VS works is available here at FIFA.com >>>>
This story was first published on June 6, 2024
More football stories
