FIFA unveils referees and innovative video support for U17 Women's World Cup in Morocco
According to a statement from FIFA, the tournament will feature 54 referees in total—18 main referees and 36 assistant referees—representing 36 member associations.
Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, noted that the World Cup offers a valuable opportunity for both players and referees to gain experience, sharpen their skills, and advance in their careers, ultimately contributing to the growth of the game.
This tournament will be especially notable for the introduction of Football Video Support (FVS), following successful trials last year at the U-20 Women's World Cup in Colombia and the U-17 tournament in the Dominican Republic. FIFA explained that the initiative responds to growing demand from member associations for a more accessible and cost-effective technological tool to assist referees.
Unlike the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, FVS does not rely on dedicated video referees and does not automatically review every potentially game-changing incident.
Instead, the responsibility lies with coaches, who are allowed a limited number of review requests per match if they believe a significant error has occurred during key moments, such as goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards, or cases of mistaken identity.
Players are also permitted to recommend that their coach request a review.
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