20 hours Ago By [email protected] (Harry Brent)
Football is trialling a tennis-style 'challenge' system that Roy Keane has previously championed, according to Howard Webb. The former Premier League referee, who now heads up the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), was the latest guest on The Overlap podcast this week. During a discussion about possible changes to football's rulebook, Gary Neville mentioned a suggestion his former Manchester United team-mate Keane, 53, had made in the past, and Webb let slip that it was, in fact, being tested.
"We went on a trip a few weeks ago, and we are talking about rule changes in the game, and Roy's was about having one challenge," Neville, 49, said. "Like in cricket, you have three challenges [but] Roy was thinking, rather than every decision being challenged, just have one coach's challenge or captain's challenge. "Basically, one per half for each coach or each captain.
.. you maybe give them five seconds or 10 seconds to sort of give a signal [to the referee].
.. so you're no re-reffing the whole game, you've just got a challenge each half.
" Responding to the suggestion, Webb, 53, said: "We'd only really know [if it would work] if we see it in practice. Interestingly enough, at the moment there's the U-17s Women's World Cup, and we've just finished the U-20s Women's World Cup in Colombia - they're using this on trial. So each coach has two challenges a game.
" In both tennis and cricket , teams/players are allowed a limited number of unsuccessful challenges, but successful ones - where the initial decision is overturned - are unlimited. And according to Webb, football's rule-makers are looking to adopt a similar structure. Not all refereeing decisions will be able to be challenged, however.
In May, FIFA announced plans to trial a challenge system, stipulating that it should be used in situations involving goals, penalties, red cards, and cases of mistaken identity only. Managers initiate the challenge by twirling their fingers and handing a card to the fourth official before explaining precisely what they would like the referee to review at the pitch-side monitor. Players are allowed to recommend a review, but the coach makes the final decision.
Refereeing icon Pierluigi Collina, who is now FIFA's head of referees, said initial trials held in the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup in Zurich were "very, very positive". He added: "Our aim is to continue to trial this new system, namely in our youth competitions. We hope to be able to give all of you who have indicated an interest in the possibility to implement this system in your competitions.
" Trials are being conducted not only to determine the system's effectiveness but also to judge how players, coaches, and fans react to successful and unsuccessful challenges. They're also keen to find out whether the system might be abused, such as for time wasting. It comes a few months after Premier League clubs voted on whether to abolish VAR amid ongoing concerns about the system's efficacy.
The notion was, however, defeated by a 19-1 vote, with Wolves the only side in favour of scrapping the technology. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
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