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Liga F to implement challenge-only video review system

Liga F will introduce Football Video Support (FVS) next season as a first step towards the full implementation of VAR in the future, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said on Thursday.

The decision comes just days after Barcelona had a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside against Real Madrid, increasing the calls for the introduction of technology in women's football in Spain.

While VAR has a video assistant referee at a remote location constantly reviewing every on-pitch decision, FVS operates on a challenge-only basis.

Coaches are allowed to request referees review decisions related to goals, penalties, direct red cards or cases of mistaken identity.

The referee then watches the incident on a pitch-side monitor, as happens with VAR, to determine whether they want to change their decision.

Each team has two challenges per match, but if a challenge is successful, they retain the right to appeal again.

"VAR would help things be fairer," Barça defender Jana Fernández said on Sunday after her goal was wrongly ruled out in a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid.

"It is not an excuse, we were not good enough, but I always had the feeling I wasn't offside and [assistant coach] Rafel Navarro has confirmed to us there was no offside."

Under the FVS system, Barça coach Pere Romeu would have been able to challenge the decision to disallow the goal, which would have given his side a 2-1 lead.

Technology is not yet widely used across women's football. VAR is used at major international tournaments, but it is not common in domestic football.

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) does use VAR, as does Portugal's Liga BPI, while the Champions League implement it once the competition reaches the knockout stages.