VAR in Futsal: Referee with Video Support in Futsal
VAR in Futsal represents a new era of precision and fairness for the sport, which is known for its exhilarating speed and intense dynamics.
Officially designated as Video Support (VS) by FIFA, this technological resource is transforming how crucial decisions are made, aiming to minimize errors and ensure the integrity of matches. The technology, already established in association football (soccer), has been adapted for the specific characteristics of the futsal court, offering referees a powerful tool for reviewing key plays. Its implementation, however, adheres to a strict protocol established by FIFA, ensuring that the flow of the game is not excessively compromised.
When Can VAR Be Activated in Futsal?
Unlike association football, where a team of video assistant referees constantly monitors the game, in futsal, the use of Video Support is more targeted. The review of a play can be initiated in two main ways: through a team’s challenge or by the refereeing duo’s own initiative in specific situations.
The Video Challenge in Futsal: Coaches’ Turn
The primary way to activate VAR in futsal is through a “challenge.” The head coach of each team (or, in their absence, another designated member of the technical staff) has the right to contest a referee’s decision in four key situations that can drastically alter the course of the match:
- Goal/No Goal: To determine if the ball completely crossed the goal line.
- Penalty/No Penalty: To review the awarding or non-awarding of a penalty kick.
- Direct Red Cards: Only for the analysis of plays resulting in a direct sending-off, not applicable to a second yellow card.
- Mistaken Identity: To correct the application of a card to the wrong player.
Each team is entitled to one challenge per half. If the challenge is successful and the on-court decision is overturned, the team retains its right to another challenge in that period. If the decision stands, the team loses the right to review in that half. In the event of extra time, teams receive an additional challenge.
Referee’s Initiative for Video Support
In addition to challenges requested by teams, referees can, at their own discretion, resort to Video Support. This usually occurs when there is a disagreement between the two referees regarding a decision in one of the four situations mentioned above, seeking a consensus for the final ruling. Furthermore, technology is a fundamental ally in ensuring the correct management of game time. Referees can use VS to:
- Verify the correct functioning of the clock.
- Correct incorrect clock stoppages or restarts by the timekeeper.
- Confirm if a goal was scored before the alarm indicating the end of a period.
The Review Process: Seeking the “Clear and Obvious Error”
Once Video Support is activated, the referees proceed to a monitor at the side of the court to review the play in question. The process involves analyzing one or more replays of the action, from different angles and at varying speeds. It is crucial to emphasize that the initial decision made on the court will only be changed if the video review unequivocally shows that a “clear and obvious error” was made or that a “serious missed incident” occurred. This principle, inherited from association football, ensures that VAR intervenes only in indisputable situations, preserving the authority of the refereeing in interpretive plays. After analyzing the images, the main referee makes the final decision and the game is restarted.
The implementation of VAR in futsal represents a significant step towards the modernization and fairness of the sport. Although still maturing and present only in competitions that meet FIFA’s strict requirements, the trend is for Video Support to become an increasingly common and essential tool in major leagues and tournaments worldwide, ensuring that talent and skill are always the decisive factors within the four lines.
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