Developed as a cost-effective alternative to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, the FVS system is designed for competitions with a limited number of cameras while retaining the same objective of assisting referees in reviewing and rectifying clear and obvious errors in crucial match situations.

 

Unlike VAR, the FVS system does not involve Video Match Officials and instead allows a team’s head coach to request a review of a decision. In cases where the coach is too far from the incident, any player or substitute may recommend that their coach make the request.

 

To initiate a review, the head coach must signal by twirling their finger in the air and hand a review request card to the fourth official immediately after the incident occurs to avoid unnecessary delays in accordance with the Laws of the Game, which do not allow a decision to be changed once play has restarted.

 

Once a review is requested and the referee is notified, the footage is assessed at the Referee Review Area (RRA), where the match official is provided with replays from various angles and speeds.

 

After a goal is scored, the fourth official will also check replay footage and alert the referee if a clear and obvious offence by the attacking team occurred directly in the build-up to the goal.

 

The FVS system is used only for clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents in four specific situations:

 

If the technology malfunctions, the match will continue without the FVS system, and both head coaches will be informed immediately.

 

 

Each team is permitted two review requests per match, with an additional request available if the match goes into extra time. Meanwhile, any unused requests will be carried forward into extra time and penalty shoot-out.

 

If the referee changes the original decision following a review in accordance with the head coach’s request, the team retains its request. However, if the decision is upheld or changed based on an incident that is different to the one specified by the head coach, the team forfeits that request.

 

With the implementation of the FVS system at the AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2025/26, the AFC once again underlines its commitment to improving the accuracy and integrity of decision-making through the continuous advancement of Football Technology, reinforcing its ongoing efforts to uphold the highest standards of refereeing across all its competitions.