EFL clubs reject VAR-style challenge system for Championship

• Majority of Championship clubs vote against introducing Football Video Support system
• Managers would have been given two challenges per match under proposed format
• Decision reflects wider fan frustration with VAR across English football

The English Football League have made their position clear. No new technology, no halfway house. The Championship will carry on without VAR or anything resembling it next season.

At a time when the top flight continues to wrestle with the consequences of VAR, clubs in the second tier have stepped away from a proposed alternative. Football Video Support, a system allowing managers to challenge decisions, was put forward earlier this year. It did not last long.

The idea was simple enough. Two reviews per game, retained if successful, with referees consulting pitchside monitors. A compromise, perhaps, between tradition and technology.

But it never really gathered momentum. Following consultation, a clear majority of clubs were against it. The league confirmed the outcome without much fuss. No introduction for the 2026/27 season.

There is a sense this reflects the mood of the wider game. VAR, introduced to the Premier League in 2019, remains a source of constant debate. Accuracy may have improved in certain areas, but the experience has changed, and not always for the better.

Supporters, in particular, have made their feelings known. Surveys suggest deep dissatisfaction. The wait for decisions, the disruption, the uncertainty. Goals celebrated, then paused, then questioned. It has chipped away at something fundamental.

The Championship, for now, is choosing something different. It will keep goal-line technology, which has been in place for years, but draw the line there.

Not every decision in football needs a second look. At least, that is the view from the EFL clubs.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.

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