The president of Italy’s referees’ association (AIA), Antonio Zappi, has ruled out the near-term introduction of a “VAR a chiamata” coach ’s-challenge system in Serie A, saying the focus for now is on improving the new in-stadium explanations of VAR decisions.
Zappi told Napoli Network that early teething issues with referees announcing decisions over the stadium PA were expected, but performance already improved in the second round of fixtures. He pointed to a brief technical hitch at San Siro that was swiftly resolved. “The path on communication is set,” he said, arguing that clearer explanations build respect.
The AIA boss stressed that the Football Video Support (FVS) system now used in Serie C and Serie A Women is not the same as challenge-style VAR and should not be confused with it. FVS is a lighter, pitch-side review tool run without a central VAR room or video match officials; each coach has up to two requests and, if a decision is changed, the request is returned. Coverage can run with as few as one to four cameras, far below top-flight VAR standards.
Serie A’s main innovation this season remains the live announcement of VAR decisions to the crowd and TV audience, a change already seen when Gianluca Manganiello explained the offside call that cancelled Lazio’s goal at Como.
Beyond technology, Zappi addressed recent violence in youth football, expressing solidarity with a 13-year-old goalkeeper assaulted by an opposition parent in Piedmont. The AIA condemned the incident and called for cultural and educational measures, alongside firm sanctions, to protect the game.
FIFA and several leagues are piloting FVS as a low-cost alternative where full VAR is impractical; unlike VAR, FVS does not automatically check all key incidents and operates without remote officials. Whether challenge-style reviews ever come to the top divisions will ultimately be a matter for IFAB and national leagues to decide.
