THE clubs in the English Premier League have voted to keep the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) after one of them sought for it to be scrapped.
Wolves called for VAR to be discontinued following a slew of incorrect decisions against the club and others last season, and the 20 clubs had to take it to a vote today.
“Premier League clubs today voted in favour of continuing to operate VAR in the Premier League,” the league body said in a statement issued today.
“While VAR produces more accurate decision-making, it was agreed that improvements should be made for the benefit of the game and supporters.
“As part of thorough discussions at the Annual General Meeting, it was agreed that PGMOL, the Premier League and clubs all have important roles to play in improving the system and its reputation.”
The Premier League listed the aspects of the decision-making that need urgent improvement ahead of next season in order to avoid more controversy.
The statement continues: “As part of ongoing work to improve VAR, six key areas were focussed on as part of discussions with clubs: 1) Maintaining a high threshold for VAR intervention to deliver greater consistency and less interruptions to the flow of the game.
“2) Reducing delays to the game, primarily through the introduction of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) and the maintained high threshold for VAR intervention.
“3) Improving fan experience through a reduction in the delays, in-stadium announcements from referees after a post-VAR change of decision and where possible, an enhanced offering of big screen replays to include all VAR interventions.
“4) Working with PGMOL on the implementation of more robust VAR training to improve consistency, including an emphasis on speed of process while preserving accuracy.
“5) Increasing transparency and communication around VAR – including expanded communications from Premier League Match Centre and through broadcast programming such as Match Officials Mic’d Up.
“6) The delivery of a fan and stakeholder VAR communication campaign, which will seek to further clarify VAR’s role in the game to participants and supporters.”
The Premier League also confirmed again that Semi-Automated Offside Technology will be introduced next season.
“The technology will provide quicker and consistent placement of the virtual offside line, based on optical player tracking, and will produce high-quality broadcast graphics to ensure an enhanced in-stadium and broadcast experience for supporters,” the Premier League explained.
“The Premier League and PGMOL will continue to lobby IFAB to allow greater flexibility in the Laws of the Game to allow live video and audio broadcast during VAR reviews.”
While the use of VAR in the other major European leagues, UEFA competitions, the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations has largely been seamless and devoid of controversy, it has been inconsistent and marred by incompetence in the English Premier League.
