At the U17 World Cup in Qatar, Germany's team used Fifa's new challenge system for the first time. Coach Marc-Patrick Meister requested a review of a suspected offside after Colombia's equalizer, leading to confirmation of the goal. The system aims to make video reviews more accessible for smaller tournaments.
Germany's U17 national team began its title defense at the World Cup in Qatar on Tuesday with a 1:1 draw against Colombia. After the Colombians' equalizer, coach Marc-Patrick Meister pulled the blue card to check a possible offside. Referee Hamza El Fareq reviewed the scene on the monitor and quickly decided no offside occurred—the goal stood.
Fifa's »Football Video Support« (FVS) system allows each coach two challenges per match. These can be used for goals, penalties, red cards, or mistaken player identity. The blue card must be shown promptly to the fourth official, without analyzing videos on the bench. An unjustified challenge costs one; if the decision is overturned, it remains. The referee reviews alone with an operator providing TV footage from stadium cameras—no video assistant or offside lines.
Fifa is testing the system as a cheaper alternative to full VAR for major leagues. First uses were in the 2021 Futsal World Cup, 2024 U20 Women's World Cup, and 2025 U20 Men's World Cup. It is also in Italy's Serie C and Spain's top women's league. Strengths: It shifts responsibility to coaches and reduces interventions, preserving game flow. Weaknesses: Limited tech leads to longer reviews; in Spain, the fourth official now handles them to save time. A 2025 U20 final review took six minutes.
Whether FVS makes football fairer is unclear; lacking challenges in key moments could be an issue. Fifa views it as a VAR supplement, not replacement. In Germany, referee chief Knut Kircher was positive: »We as referees are open to anything that benefits football.« Introduction in the women's Bundesliga or 3. Liga is conceivable, but unlikely in the Bundesliga without Fifa approval.