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FVS system set to be implemented in AWCL 2025/26 Group Stage
Kuala Lumpur: In yet another step towards enhancing women’s football in Asia, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Monday that the upcoming AFC Women’s Champions League™ (AWCL) 2025/26 season will incorporate the use of the Football Video Support (FVS) system from the Group Stage, which will be held from November 9 to 23, 2025.
The launch of the landmark competition last season marked a new chapter in the Confederation’s rich legacy, with the Final between China PR’s Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC and Melbourne City FC of Australia elevated by the historic use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), paving the way for the introduction of FVS which will be used in an AFC competition for the first time.

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Following the implementation of VAR technology across the AFC’s revamped three-tiered men’s club competitions in the 2024/25 season, the debut of the FVS system in the AWCL is yet another advancement that underscores the Confederation’s commitment to reducing the margin of error in officiating and developing the women’s game on the Continent. This initiative forms part of FIFA’s extended trial phase for FVS.
 
In the 2025/26 season of the AWCL, participating teams will have the option to request up to two reviews, with an additional request available should the match go into extra time.
The technology will be applied only to clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents, specifically relating to goals, penalties, direct red card offences (excluding second yellow cards), and cases of mistaken identity where the wrong player from the same team is cautioned or sent off.

 

In the event that a referee changes the original decision following a review, the team will retain its review request; conversely, if the initial decision is upheld, the request will be forfeited.

 

By embracing the latest officiating technologies and strengthening refereeing excellence, the adoption of the FVS system is one more instance of the AFC’s steadfast resolve to ensure the highest standards of match officiating across all its competitions.