Premier League Managers Block VAR Change That Fans Were Hoping For
The wait for the new Premier League season is almost over, with Manchester United hosting Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday. As fans get ready to dig into the excitement of the English top flight, they’re likely to be subjected to endless VAR chat and controversy.
However, there are some changes being introduced to VAR in its sixth season, aiming to reduce delays and improve fan engagement. For instance, there will be greater emphasis on sticking with the referee’s original decision on subjective issues, preventing VAR from re-refereeing games. Additionally, the introduction of semi-automated offside technology is expected to bring an end to long waits over fractional offside calls.
Despite these changes, Premier League managers have blocked one VAR proposal that many fans were hoping for – referees announcing VAR decisions live on-mic to fans in the stadium. This change was seen in the Women’s World Cup in 2023 and the Olympics this summer.
According to reports, Premier League coaches expressed their concern that explaining VAR decisions to match-going fans would add even more time to the VAR process, which they want to see sped up. This was a major sticking point, leading the Premier League to scrap the proposal.
Instead, fans will have to rely on on-screen messaging and replays of incidents where relevant. Additionally, live explanations will be provided on social media for fans not at the stadium. Premier League Chief Football Officer Tony Scholes explained that the league "don’t want to put additional pressure on the referees," which makes sense given the intense scrutiny they’re already under.
It’s a shame, really. Fans crave transparency and clear explanations when it comes to VAR decisions. The lack of live announcements is a blow to the effort to increase fan engagement and understanding of the system. Here’s hoping that the Premier League reconsider their stance in the future.
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