Championship clubs have unanimously declined the opportunity to incorporate a version of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system into their games for the upcoming season. The proposed Football Video Support (FVS), a less resource-intensive variant of VAR, which allows each coach two reviews per game, was slated for introduction from August.
The Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) had presented this proposal at the English Football League's (EFL) annual meeting last month. Following this presentation, EFL sought feedback from its member clubs on the potential implementation of FVS. However, it became evident that most clubs were staunchly against any form of video review system in the Championship.
BBC Sport has reported that discussions around implementing VAR in Championship games are unlikely to be revived by these clubs anytime soon.
Goal line technology continues
Despite rejecting VAR, Goal Line Technology will continue to be utilized in second-tier matches. Additionally, there will be a cost-based analysis before voting in June on whether to extend this technology into League One. In recent months leading up to this decision, several managers within the Championship have voiced their support for introducing VAR into their league matches. Norwich manager Philippe Clement expressed his desire for "right decisions" after his side conceded a penalty against Ipswich earlier this month and lamented missing out on moments where he could have used VAR.
Similarly, former Bristol City manager Gerhard Struber stated in January that there are "many signs [and] evaluations that with VAR decisions are better and more fair". Despite these calls from managers seeking fairness and accuracy through technology-assisted refereeing systems like FVS or full-fledged VAR systems, club owners showed no inclination towards adopting such measures due to concerns about potential impacts on supporters' experience as well as the cost of implementation.
While Championship clubs have rejected VAR, it is worth noting that this technology is already being used in the second divisions of Spain, Italy, and Germany. France's Ligue 2 was also set to adopt VAR until a collapse in their TV rights deal led to its cancellation on financial grounds.
While some managers within the Championship are advocating for technological assistance like VAR to ensure fairer game decisions, club owners' concerns about costs and fan experience have led them to reject such proposals for now. As football continues to evolve with technology playing an increasingly significant role, it remains to be seen how these clubs will adapt or resist these changes in future seasons.
