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IFAB announces changes to make VAR more agile and modern

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is preparing to revolutionise decision-making in football. The institution, responsible for defining the rules of the game worldwide, announced that it will make changes to the VAR (Video Assisted Refereeing) protocol that will come into effect after its 139th Annual General Meeting, scheduled for 1 March 2025 in Belfast, United Kingdom. With these reforms, the IFAB aims to reduce time wasting in matches and improve accuracy in the review of plays.

Among the key changes is the introduction of the ‘Captain Only’ guideline, which will limit review requests to a single interlocutor - the captain of each team. Tis measure is intended to simplify communication during the process and to avoid confusion in critical game situations. In addition, it is planned to amend the rule relating to the dropped ball for the goalkeeper, with the aim of clarifying when the referee should intervene and to ensure fairer decisions in situations of doubt.

The announcement of these changes comes in the context of the IFAB's recent Annual Business Meeting (ABM) in December, where a number of proposals to modernise the play review system were put on the table. The growing demand for more agile decision-making has prompted the organisation to consider technological alternatives to complement the traditional VAR.

One such alternative is Football Video Support (FVS), a system designed to be more economical and accessible to national federations that cannot afford the costly VAR system. Unlike VAR, FVS does not have specialised video match officials; instead, it is the coaches who must request a review of a play via a green card shown to the fourth official. Each coach may request up to two reviews per match when he considers that an obvious mistake has been made. This solution aims to balance the need for review with cost control, which is essential in an ever-evolving sport.

The impact of these proposals could be significant. The ‘Captain Only’ guideline will not only streamline the review process, but will also reduce interruptions to the flow of the match, allowing for a smoother experience for players and fans. In addition, the addition of the FVS represents a technological leap that could democratise access to review tools in countries with fewer financial resources, ensuring that football continues to move towards greater transparency.

IFAB has opened a consultation period until 15 November to allow all stakeholders - from national associations to players and fans - to contribute their ideas and proposals to refine these changes. This consultation process is essential to ensure that the changes reflect the real needs of modern football, where technology plays an increasingly important role in refereeing decisions.

The VAR debate has been a hot topic over the last few years. Many critics have pointed out that the current system interrupts the rhythm of the game too much and that decisions can sometimes appear unclear or late. With these new measures, the IFAB aims not only to improve the efficiency of review, but also to provide greater support for referees and strengthen fans' confidence in the fairness of the sport.

The 139th IFAB General Assembly in Belfast promises to be a turning point in the evolution of football, and the proposed changes could mark the beginning of a new era in which refereeing is supported by the latest technology and procedures. Will this be the boost football needed to make further progress in transparency and efficiency? Only time will tell, but what is certain is that the organisation is already charting a path towards a future in which every play will be reviewed with the precision that the digital age demands.

Find out all the details of these proposals and what they could mean for sport in our full article.