The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) intends to replace the controversial Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system with a new option called Football Video Support (FVS), which involves the direct participation of coaches. Since its introduction in the mid-2010s, VAR has faced criticism and generated more controversies than solutions in the world of football.
FVS is presented as a simplified alternative to VAR, with a more accessible approach and the possibility for coaches to directly intervene in reviews during matches. Under this new system, coaches will be able to request two reviews per match, with the caveat that they will lose one opportunity if the claim is unsuccessful. If the coach requests a review, the referee will be obligated to examine the specific play, and it will not be the referee's initiative to review the images on their own.
Unlike VAR, FVS will require a reduced number of cameras (between four and five) and will not have the role of a video assistant referee. FIFA hopes to obtain approval from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in the coming months to begin implementing Football Video Support in various competitions, aiming for it to become a standardized method at the international level by the year 2025.
