Premier League clubs vote 19-1 to maintain VAR but insist on improvement | first division
Premier League clubs voted to preserve the use of VAR in the competition and pledged to improve the performance of the technology “for the benefit of the game and the fans”.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' motion for the league should leave the VAR It was rejected by the clubs, who voted 19-1 to keep it, and the league instead proposed a series of adjustments to the system.
The main of the measures will be the introduction in October of semi-automatic offside technology, which is expected to reduce decision-making delays that have disrupted matches. The league also promised a new “communication campaign between fans and stakeholders” to help understand the purpose and use of VAR.
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In a statement, the league said: “Premier League clubs voted today in favor 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 the fans.
“As part of extensive discussions at the annual general meeting, it was agreed that PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), the Premier League and the clubs have important roles to play in improving the system and its reputation.”
La Liga has announced six areas in which it hopes to improve VAR performance after a season in which the average delay in decision-making increased by more than 50%.
The most important initiative will be the adoption of semi-automatic offside technology after the autumn international break. It will use dedicated cameras in the stadium to calculate the position of a receiving player when a pass is played and will eliminate the need for VAR officials to draw manual lines to determine offsides. It is expected to reduce the average time needed to calculate an offside decision by more than half a minute.
Other changes largely relate to communication. Starting next season, referees will be able to announce the reason for a VAR override, such as a handball or offside, providing a small improvement to the stadium experience for fans. The league says it also hopes to offer “an enhanced big-screen replay offering to include all VAR interventions.”
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There will also be increased communication through the media, including the established match officials' Mic'd Up broadcast in which PGMOL boss Howard Webb discusses the most controversial decisions. A public communications plan is also promised to “further clarify to participants and fans the role of VAR in the game.” Plans to improve VAR training for referees will also continue.
The league's six proposals have been anticipated and there will be expectations that they will provide a real improvement in the performance of a system that is increasingly frustrating clubs and spectators.
