Not every change is seen as progress
There’s a general feeling that football is slowly moving towards more technology. More reviews, more checks, more ways to get decisions right. But that’s not how everyone sees it.
Clubs in the Championship — part of the English Football League — were given the option to bring in a challenge-based review system next season. They decided against it.
What the idea actually was
This wasn’t full VAR like in the top division. The proposal was simpler. Managers would get a couple of chances in a game to question a decision. If they felt something was wrong, they could ask for it to be checked.
The referee would then go to the monitor, look at the available angles, and either stick with the original call or change it. If the challenge was correct, the team would keep it. If not, they’d lose one. So, in theory, it avoids constant interruptions. But that didn’t convince most clubs.
Why it didn’t feel right
The Championship is a different kind of competition. Games are quicker, more direct, sometimes a bit chaotic. That’s part of what makes it interesting. Adding even a small number of reviews changes that rhythm. It might not seem like much, but those pauses matter.
There’s also the question of consistency. Not every ground has the same setup. Camera angles, coverage, everything can vary. And if the system isn’t exactly the same everywhere, it becomes harder to trust the outcome. For a lot of clubs, that uncertainty probably outweighs the benefits.
The influence of what’s already happening elsewhere
It’s difficult to look at this decision without thinking about how video review has gone in other competitions. Even at the highest level, it’s still debated. The idea was always to improve decisions, but the experience hasn’t been straightforward.
Delays, confusion, and the way it affects moments in the stadium — especially goal celebrations — are still being talked about. So, when Championship clubs were asked to consider something similar, even in a limited form, it’s not surprising they were cautious.
For now, nothing changes
The league will continue as it is. Goal-line technology stays. Beyond that, no new systems will be introduced. It’s a fairly simple decision in the end — keep things as they are rather than bring in something that might disrupt the game.
Final thought
This isn’t really about being against technology. It’s more about where and how it fits. At this level, the feeling of the game still matters a lot — the pace, the flow, the unpredictability. And for now, EFL clubs seem to think that adding another layer of review isn’t worth changing that. At least not yet.
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