FA working on surprise plan to fix VAR controversy

Published: Monday, March 2, 2026 at 5:55 pm

FA Mulls Coach's Challenge System to Curb VAR Controversy

The Football Association (FA) is reportedly exploring a significant overhaul of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in response to ongoing controversy surrounding its use in the Premier League. The move comes after another weekend of contentious VAR decisions, with Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner voicing strong criticism of a penalty and red card call that impacted a match against Manchester United.

The FA is considering a "coach's challenge" model, similar to systems used in sports like cricket, the NFL, and rugby league. This would allow managers a limited number of challenges per game to contest subjective VAR decisions, such as fouls, handballs, and red card offenses. Factual decisions, like offsides, would continue to be automatically reviewed by technology.

The proposed system aims to reduce lengthy game stoppages and shift some responsibility back to the teams. The FA believes this approach could streamline the review process and potentially restore more authority to on-field referees. The FA's chief executive, Mark Bullingham, has indicated an interest in learning from lower-tier competitions that have already experimented with similar models.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is currently reviewing VAR usage, and the FA, as a member, is expected to advocate for official trials of the coach's challenge system. While some critics express concern that the introduction of challenges could create new issues if teams exhaust their appeals before a crucial error, supporters believe it could reduce the constant scrutiny of every play and improve the overall flow of the game.

BNN's Perspective: The FA's willingness to address the growing concerns surrounding VAR is a positive step. While the coach's challenge system is not without potential drawbacks, it offers a promising avenue to balance the benefits of technology with the need to maintain the natural rhythm and integrity of the game. Finding the right balance will be key to ensuring that VAR enhances, rather than detracts from, the Premier League experience.

Keywords: VAR, Premier League, Football Association, FA, coach's challenge, subjective decisions, offsides, fouls, handballs, red cards, IFAB, Mark Bullingham, refereeing, controversy, Manchester United, Crystal Palace

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