More VAR challenge trials expected during two-year review

Fifa referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina says there will be further trials of a challenge system as part of a two-year review of the video assistant referee (VAR).

The International Football Association Board (Ifab) announced the review at its annual general meeting on Saturday – the 10th anniversary of its initial approval of VAR trials.

Football Video Support (FVS), which allows coaches to make two challenges per match, is already being tried out in Italy, Malta and Spain.

Collina, who chairs the referees’ committee of world football’s governing body, said it was likely those trials would be replicated elsewhere.

“It is probable that in the next weeks we will open the possibility to join the trial for the next season to member association and competition organisers,” he said.

The very existence of VAR has been questioned at times this season in particular, with many claiming the game would be better without it.

Collina, who was voted the world’s best referee five times, said: “In Italy, we say that in every wonderful marriage, there is a crisis after seven years.

Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said in any assessment of VAR, it was paramount to “keep the game flowing” and “we don’t want to see more delays”.

Bullingham said the FA was against VAR checks on corners – which have been approved for use at this summer’s World Cup – and the competition opt-in would not be used in England.

But he is supportive of a challenge system.

“It changes the dynamic,” Bullingham said. “It reduces the amount of times when there is a VAR intervention and effectively puts the onus on the coach.

“That’s something which we might continue to learn as we trial that model.

“Parts of the game [that use FVS] fundamentally can’t afford for VAR at the moment.