VAR: Five ways to improve football's video-assisted revolution

#1 Use a challenge system

Nigeria v France: Group A - 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France

Sports where video technology has been successfully implemented – cricket, tennis, American football, etc. – have all instigated a challenge system.

Typically, teams or players are given a set number of opportunities to protest an on-field call in the space of an allotted period of time. Appeal successfully and keep that chance for another moment, but if you fail it is frittered away.

In football, the exact number of challenges would need to be experimented with, but three over the course of a match seems reasonable.

By giving control over what decisions are reviewed to the participants, whether it’s the player or coaching staff, it allows the spirit of the game to be maintained as it negates the influence of the outside source that the video assistant referee is not to be but on too many occasions is.

It also adds a tactical dimension to the game. Do you use a challenge if you’re not absolutely sure your forward was tripped in the box three minutes into the game? Do you save a challenge for the last seconds, when it may be the difference between victory and defeat?

If FIFA adopted this system, it would seem feasible – contrary to my previous suggestions – to open up any refereeing call to television scrutiny and to allow marginal factual calls to be made by video. After all, there would be some science behind the decision to challenge as opposed to what appears to be a lottery system that is currently in place.

Should teams want to take a chance on using a precious challenge over a throw-in on the halfway line then let them. Just make sure the resolution to the appeal is a swift one.