VAR from over
Premier League reveals six-point plan to fix VAR after 19 teams vote to keep it despite horror gaffes
A plan has been outlined to solve issues
PREM clubs have agreed a six-point battle plan to FINALLY make VAR fit for purpose.
But the move came after Wolves were left ENTIRELY isolated in their call for the technology to be scrapped next season.
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The Molineux club were outvoted by 19 clubs to one after their call was dismissed at the Prem’s AGM in Harrogate.
But refs’ chief Howard Webb vowed that his new measures, including the introduction of Fifa and Uefa-style Semi Automated Offside Technology and a significantly higher bar for VAR intervention, will address the issues that have dogged the system ever since its introduction five years ago.
In a statement introducing the six step programme, which pointed out that VAR “produces more accurate decision-making”, the Prem conceded that “it was agreed that improvements should be made for the benefit of the game and supporters”.
That brought the “six key areas” that Webb and his PGMOL colleagues are expected to utilise to bring long-term change for the better.
The statement confirmed: "Premier League clubs today voted in favour of continuing to operate VAR in the Premier League.
"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."
Stockley Park VARs will be told only to intervene when an on-field decision is “clearly wrong”, rather than the previous instruction to identify and “clear and obvious” error.
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It is anticipated that SAOT will take up to 45 seconds off the average delay time for offside decisions.
The League explained: “Semi-Automated Offside 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.”
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Refs will be mik’d up to explain why a decision has been changed, either after a pitchside review or on a factual call by Stockley Park.
Webb is also determined to improve the quality of VAR interventions, including creating a specialist team rather than having to use current Prem refs in the video booth role.
But the latter two points are an admission that fans and the wider game have frequently felt short-changed by a system that was designed to bring clarity and more consistency.
And Webb, backed by the Prem, will keep pushing Law-makers on the International FA Board to lift its ban on “live” broadcast of VAR communications between officials, although the Zurich-based body remains resistant at this stage.
Premier League's six-point VAR plan
- Maintaining a high threshold for VAR intervention to deliver greater consistency and less interruptions to the flow of the game.
- Reducing delays to the game, primarily through the introduction of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) and the maintained high threshold for VAR intervention.
- 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.
- Working with PGMOL on the implementation of more robust VAR training to improve consistency, including an emphasis on speed of process while preserving accuracy.
- 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.
- 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.
That could mean asking Ifab to be allowed to trial the process to see if it does work without embarrassing or causing additional issues for officials.
VAR was introduced in the Premier League from the start of the 2019/20 season.
The current campaign has seen multiple flashpoints caused by the use of video assistant referees.
Liverpool wrongly had a goal disallowed in their controversial loss to Tottenham in September.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest have written letters of complaint to the PGMOL.
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Forest even publicly questioned the appointment of VAR Stuart Attwell after their defeat to Everton last month.
Clubs in Sweden recently voted against introducing VAR to the country's top-flight.
Wolves' VAR complaints
Wolves have listed nine negative repercussions from the introduction of VAR in their complaint.
- Impact on goal celebrations and the spontaneous passion that makes football special
- Frustration and confusion inside stadiums due to lengthy VAR checks and poor communication
- A more hostile atmosphere with protests, booing of the Premier League anthem and chants against VAR
- Overreach of VAR’s original purpose to correct clear and obvious mistakes, now overanalysing subjective decisions and compromising the game’s fluidity and integrity
- Diminished accountability of on-field officials, due to the safety net of VAR, leading to an erosion of authority on the pitch
- Continued errors despite VAR, with supporters unable to accept human error after multiple views and replays, damaging confidence in officiating standards
- Disruption of the Premier League’s fast pace with lengthy VAR checks and more added time, causing matches to run excessively long
- Constant discourse about VAR decisions often overshadowing the match itself, and tarnishing the reputation of the league
- Erosion of trust and reputation, with VAR fuelling completely nonsensical allegations of corruption