FA targets coach’s challenge trial in bid to reduce VAR delays
The Football Association is aiming to trial a ‘coach’s challenge’ system in a bid to reduce the frequency and length of delays caused by Video Assistant Referees.
Mark Bullingham, the governing body’s chief executive, has suggested adopting a model similar to those successfully used in cricket and tennis.
This potential shift comes amid a scheduled two-year review of officiating technology by the International Football Association Board (Ifab).
Shifting the onus to managers
Video technology has been a permanent fixture in the Premier League since the 2019-20 campaign but continues to divide opinion regarding the speed of decision-making.
Under the proposed changes, managers would likely be granted a set number of appeals per match regarding subjective on-field decisions.
Factual rulings, such as offside calls, would remain under the automatic jurisdiction of current technology protocols.
“The other interesting area is looking at what can we learn from other trials being done?”
Mark Bullingham, FA Chief Executive
Bullingham believes this approach could fundamentally alter the flow of matches by reducing constant interference from the VAR hub.
“That changes the dynamic, that reduces the amount of times when there is a VAR intervention and effectively puts the onus on the coach.”
Conflicting views on implementation
While the English hierarchy appears keen on the concept, there is resistance regarding its necessity at the elite level of the sport.
David Elleray, Ifab’s technical director, has previously argued that a challenge system is redundant in competitions equipped with comprehensive camera coverage.
“There is no reason to have challenges with VAR because the video match officials check every single incident.”
David Elleray, Ifab Technical Director
The former referee suggests such systems are better suited for competitions that operate with limited camera angles.
Despite this opposition, the FA intends to push for a trial scheme as part of the ongoing wider review into officiating standards.
