KFA: "Seriously Recognizing Coaches' Criticisms on Consistency of Judgments, etc... Simultaneous Use of VAR and FVS Impossible Under International Regulations" [22nd Anniversary Special Planning ③]

*This content was translated by AI.

① 72.4% of K-League Coaches Support Switch to Autumn-Spring Season... Key to Uniting Opponents Lies in 'Winter Break'

② It Was Not a 'Wrong Call': The 'Thing' That Made 93.1% of K-League Coaches Angry

③ KFA: "Seriously Recognizing Coaches' Criticisms on Consistency of Judgments, etc... Simultaneous Use of VAR and FVS Impossible Under International Regulations"

The Korea Football Association (KFA) and the Korea Professional Football League (KPFL) recently clarified their stance regarding the results of a StarNews 22nd Anniversary Special Planning survey conducted among K-League 1 and K-League 2 coaches. While they acknowledged that areas requiring improvement are being addressed through internal efforts, they further explained that certain systems cannot be realized due to constraints imposed by international regulations, despite feedback from the field.

Previously, StarNews conducted a survey targeting 12 K-League 1 coaches and 17 K-League 2 coaches ahead of its 22nd anniversary, focusing on referee judgments and the potential switch to an autumn-spring season. Many coaches honestly expressed their frustrations felt on the ground in this survey aimed at promoting the development of the K-League and Korean football as a whole. One K-League coach stated, "I do not know how seriously the association or league will take this, but I hope they listen more frequently to voices from the field."

The Korea Football Association first stated regarding inconsistent judgments and communication issues that "we seriously recognize the 'consistency of judgments' and 'mutual communication' problems highlighted in the survey as core tasks for improving judgments." It further explained, "Taking note of criticisms raised during the 2025 National Assembly audit, we are preparing and implementing a comprehensive improvement plan." Previously, among K-League coaches responding to the survey question, "What is lacking in K-League referee judgments?" (multiple responses allowed), no fewer than 27 pointed to inconsistent judgments, while 14 cited communication failures regarding judgments. Both failure to utilize video review and high-handed attitudes toward players and benches received 11 votes each. Only five coaches answered that wrong calls, i.e., errors, were disappointing.

In this regard, the KFA stated, "During the October 2025 National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit, we received criticisms regarding the allocation, evaluation, communication system, and development-related issues. In December of that year and January of the following year, we held two internal seminars." It added, "In February this year, we held 'KFA Open Ground: Referee Development Hearing,' which included participation from the league, coaches, on-field referees, and media, and through a referee policy announcement in the same month, finalized a comprehensive improvement plan. We are now sequentially implementing improvement tasks across six major areas for the 2026 season."

The KFA further emphasized, "To enhance judgment consistency, we are continuing efforts including restructuring the education system, providing round-by-round feedback education, strengthening practical capabilities in video review (VAR), and improving evaluation and allocation systems." For example, it explained that by introducing a phased development roadmap and increasing the number of full-time instructors, they are raising the density of education and unifying standards. They also share major judgments occurring in each round with all referees through online feedback education to consistently unify judgment criteria for identical situations, thereby striving to improve judgment consistency.

It further added that efforts to strengthen 'communication,' which was pointed out as a concern on the field, are also ongoing. The KFA stated, "We have expanded the number of non-referee members in the Referee Evaluation Committee from one to three and allowed unlimited attendance by club officials so they can directly observe the judgment deliberation and evaluation process." It emphasized, "Before the season opens, we are collecting on-field opinions by sharing season judgment criteria in advance through coach briefing sessions and club visit education."

The KFA further added, "We are continuously producing and releasing VAR ON video content so fans, clubs, and media can understand judgment criteria. When major incidents occur, we provide prompt explanations through judgment briefings." It also stated, "We have proposed the establishment of a 'Regular Consultative Body for Professional Referee Development' to the Korea Professional Football League to create a channel for ongoing consultation on judgment-related issues."

One of the disappointments regarding referee judgments expressed by K-League coaches was the non-utilization of video review. Despite the existence of a video review system, the fact that referees make decisions without directly reviewing situations such as on-field reviews even in critical moments has been a recurring complaint from the field. In StarNews's survey results, 9 coaches answered that introducing a system allowing coaches to request video review from the referee (FVS) is 'absolutely necessary,' 20 said it would be 'good to have,' and not a single coach answered that such a system was unnecessary. This result fully reflects disappointment with the operation of video review.

FVS is a system piloted by FIFA for tournaments where video review is needed but relevant infrastructure is difficult to establish, or in European lower leagues. The core feature is that both team coaches have the authority to request video review twice each, and referees can conduct video review only upon a coach's request. If an actual judgment is overturned after a video review requested by a coach, the opportunity remains unchanged; if the judgment stands, the opportunity is deducted. This system has already been applied in domestic sports such as professional baseball. If the core of FVS—the authority to request video review—is granted to coaches, it can minimize complaints arising from not conducting video review in critical situations.

The Korea Football Association and the Korea Professional Football League have already considered introducing FVS into the K-League. However, the KFA stated, "We formally inquired with FIFA about whether it is possible to operate by combining the current VAR system with FVS, a system allowing coaches to directly request video review from referees." It added, "In response, we received a reply from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) stating that simultaneous implementation of VAR and FVS is not permitted. Therefore, under the current VAR system, additionally introducing FVS is impossible under international regulations." This means that in the K-League, where VAR has been officially introduced, a system allowing coaches to directly request video review is impossible under international regulations, contrary to on-field expectations.

Regarding 'introduction of foreign referees,' which many coaches positively responded to as an extension of judgment controversies and dissatisfaction, they answered that the policy of the Korea Professional Football League, which organizes the K-League, must come first. Previously, among 29 K-League coaches, 15 supported introducing a foreign referee system, 10 reserved judgment, and 4 cast Ban (CEO) votes. One K-League coach stated, "If only systematic measures that can generate positive synergy are in place, approaching the introduction of foreign referee personnel or advanced judgment technologies with an open mind is also a good direction for development."

In response, the Korea Football Association stated, "To date, we have not received any formal request from the Korea Professional Football League regarding the introduction of foreign referees, nor has there been any separate discussion." It added, "Matters related to introducing foreign referees must first confirm the league's policy. If the league's official proposal or stance is conveyed in the future, we plan to conduct detailed reviews at the association level."

The KFA further elaborated, "Inviting foreign referees entails administrative and financial burdens. This structure requires the tournament organizing body (the league) to bear all costs." Administrative and financial burdens arising from introducing foreign referees include various immigration-related administrative tasks such as visa issuance, airfare and accommodation expenses, referee fees and accident insurance commensurate with international standards, etc.

The atmosphere suggests that switching to the 'K-League Autumn-Spring Season,' which starts a season in autumn and ends it in spring of the following year, is an unstoppable trend. Following the AFC Champions League schedule switching to an autumn-spring format, Japan's professional J-League also switched to an autumn-spring season this year. The Korea Cup, hosted by the Korea Football Association, has also changed from a spring-autumn format to an autumn-spring format.

Especially as extreme summer heatwaves intensify, with the professional baseball league completely canceled this year and K-League kickoff times uniformly delayed, voices calling for a switch to an autumn-spring season are gradually gaining strength. In StarNews's 22nd Anniversary survey, 21 out of 29 K-League coaches, or 72.4%, voiced support for switching to an autumn-spring season. Only five coaches clearly expressed opposition to the autumn-spring season.

In this regard, the Korea Professional Football League stated, "The K-League also agrees with the direction of switching to an autumn-spring season in the long term." The league's position is that maintaining a spring-autumn format indefinitely is not possible, and eventually, a switch to an autumn-spring season will be necessary.

The problem is that the switch to an autumn-spring season cannot be accelerated solely on the grounds of 'heatwaves' such as declining performance during extreme summer heat. It means caution is required given the many knots to untie and solutions to prepare first.

The league explained, "While K-League's switch to an autumn-spring season may mitigate heatwaves to some extent, it is not a solution to avoid all heatwaves. In fact, Japan, which implemented the autumn-spring season starting this season, has faced difficulties due to heatwaves at the opening period, so we are also monitoring the J-League case."

It further added, "If an autumn-spring season is adopted, a winter break of over a month becomes essential during the harsh winter cold. Ultimately, increased player fatigue due to schedule congestion will be raised as another concern." It stated, "We must also find solutions for issues such as declining spectator numbers due to an increase in midweek matches and turf problems during winter. We are reviewing various angles, including methods to keep winter turf warm."

This aligns with the on-field atmosphere where more coaches supported switching to an autumn-spring season but favored thorough preparation regarding infrastructure expansion (14 coaches) over the fastest possible switch (7 coaches). One K-League coach previously stated in the survey, "Even if the timing of introducing an autumn-spring season is somewhat delayed, it is desirable to switch only after perfect prior preparation is made for relevant infrastructure and institutional countermeasures such as turf and cold-weather facilities."

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*This content was translated by AI.