Football Video Reviews Introduced in the F League: Teams now have the option to seek video reviews for game decisions
Liga F Adopts Simplified Video Review System for 2025/2026 Season
Liga F, the top tier of women's football in Spain, is set to make a significant leap forward in refereeing technology by implementing the Football Video Support (FVS) system in the upcoming 2025/2026 season. This move marks a modernization of officiating in women's football and could make Liga F the first major league to fully adopt FVS.
The FVS system is a simplified and cost-effective video review system that allows coaches to request reviews of key referee decisions during matches. It covers situations such as goals, penalties, direct red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. Each team is allotted two reviews per game, and if a review leads to a successful challenge, the team retains that review for later use; if unsuccessful, they lose it.
The referee can then consult a pitch-side monitor to reassess the specific incident, which speeds up the process and reduces costs and logistical complexity compared to the traditional VAR system. The objective is to provide referees, players, and clubs with the best tools for fairer and more efficient refereeing.
Liga F President Beatriz Álvarez presided over the Assembly, which also included RFEF President Rafael Louzán, where the decision to implement FVS was made. The collaboration aims to provide a smooth implementation of FVS at the start of the season.
Referee teams must be trained in managing video review requests from coaches within the two-review limit, efficiently using pitch-side monitors to reassess incidents during live match flow, and applying the review criteria consistently in situations of goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity. Such training likely involves familiarization with the technology, decision protocols, and communication standards between referees and video officials to maintain match flow and decision accuracy.
The FVS system reviews four situations: goal/no goal, penalty/no penalty, red card, and identity confusion. It is designed for competitions that prioritize efficient, accessible, and sustainable technological solutions. FVS has been validated by FIFA and has been used in international competitions like the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Colombia 2024 and the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Dominican Republic 2024.
Liga F reaffirms its trust in the refereeing body and its commitment to continuous improvement of the competition. The shared will to continue driving the professionalization of Liga F and strengthening the top category of women's football is reflected in this collaboration. Liga F strengthens its institutional alliances with the RFEF and its technical refereeing bodies.
In summary, FVS in Liga F enables coach-initiated reviews on critical decisions with limited challenges, quicker referee consultations on the pitch, and aims to enhance fairness while avoiding the complexity and cost of full VAR systems. The implementation of FVS is a significant step towards improving the quality of refereeing in Liga F matches.
- The Liga F, having adopted the Football Video Support (FVS) system for the 2025/2026 season, will allow coaches to review key referee decisions during matches, focusing on goals, penalties, direct red cards, and cases of mistaken identity.
- With the simplified video review system (FVS) in place, Liga F aims to provide referees, players, and clubs with better tools for fairer and more efficient refereeing, with a target of becoming the first major league to fully integrate this technology.
