Video refereeing, VAR, i.e. video assistant referee, has been a topic of conversation for several seasons around the football world. In particular, it has been a problem in the Premier League, as England has seen several farcical situations and mistakes with VAR.
At the end of last season, Wolverhampton listed nine reasons why VAR should be scrapped. The matter was voted on, and Wolves lost 1–19. VAR will therefore be seen even at the start of the season with the support of all other clubs.
However, changes have been promised. Referee Chief Howard Webb told about them for the BBC.
First of all, the Premier League Match Center plans to publish explanations of VAR’s decisions in “almost real time” on its X account.
In order to improve the grandstand and viewing experience, better slowdowns on stadium screens and the use of social media have been promised.
Ifab, the body that decides on the rules of football, did not agree that the conversations between the referee and the video referee would be published regularly. Ifab considered it “too chaotic”.
Webb hosts a show called Match Officials Mic’d Up, which features discussions between the referees and VAR about certain key decisions.
The judge’s word is almost law
Since its introduction, VAR has had to deal with “clear and obvious” fouls. However, it has been accused that the VAR intervenes in the Lillunavars.
Premier League sports boss Tony Scholes said that they have a plan with six guidelines to clarify this.
One of them, perhaps the most important, is the “referee’s call”. Webb and Scholes report On the Premier League websitethat the purpose is to bring football’s VAR system closer to, for example, cricket, where the term “umpire’s call” is used.
The task of the referee on the field is therefore to make the decisions. The Premier League tries to emphasize that VAR is not supposed to re-judge the match.
– The referee’s call must remain valid, unless VAR, based on readily available evidence, can see without a doubt that the referee on the field has made a clear mistake. In the absence of clear evidence, the referee’s original decision stands, said Scholes.
Webb felt this alignment was very important to understand as it helps people deal with their expectations with VAR.
– We have situations that divide opinion, and VAR cannot provide definitive answers all the time, because in the real world there is not always right or wrong. So the “referee’s call” clarifies the process for fans, managers and players – even if they disagree with the decision.
In addition, the purpose is to both reduce and shorten the interruptions caused by VAR. Webb said the Premier League has the fewest stoppages caused by VAR of the top flight, with just 0.29 per match.
– We look for those clear mistakes that jump from the screen to the eyes, and if that doesn’t happen in the situation, then “check completed” and we move on.
However, he admitted that last season there were several significant mistakes that need to be corrected.
According to the Premier League, the number of correct decisions in matches was 96 percent, while before the introduction of VAR it was 82 percent.
According to the Premier League, VAR was used incorrectly 31 times last season. This means wrong actions, the intervention of the VAR without reason, or that the VAR did not intervene in the situation even if it should have.
Last season, VAR participated in decisions 1,300 times, and 105 times the decision made by the referee with the help of VAR was corrected in the right way.
– Last year there were actually fewer mistakes than before. A small number of cases live strongly in the memory, Webb pointed out and referred to last season’s disastrous decisions.
Last season, four clubs – Liverpool, Arsenal, Wolves and Nottingham Forest – issued an official statement expressing concern about the standard of refereeing and the use of VAR in the Premier League.
Premier League and fans disagree
Scholes emphasized that the system will never be perfect and that not all problem areas can be avoided.
– Disadvantages are partly unavoidable. There are delays in the game, the fan experience is worse. We know it and we can’t get rid of them. They are an inevitable part of VAR, but our job is to minimize the harm.
Scholes said that according to an independent survey commissioned by the Premier League, four out of five fans support the use of VAR.
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) vehemently denied the claim. The FSA said its own research found that VAR is “very, very unpopular with fans attending matches”.
Premier League sources told the BBC that the Premier League is prepared to share details of its investigation with the FSA.
The BBC, on the other hand, writes that only one in ten people attending matches likes VAR, specifically in its current form.
In addition, during the season, possibly in October, it is planned to introduce a semi-automatic offside system, which will clearly speed up the referees’ decision-making regarding offside penalties.
The Football Premier League starts on Friday evening with the meeting between Manchester United and Fulham.