Liverpool and another unnamed club in the Premier League have expressed their support for the continued use of VAR in the upcoming season, despite recent controversies. The Reds, who were on the receiving end of a high-profile officiating error earlier in the season, still believe that VAR has the potential to improve the game. The club acknowledges the need for improvements, but they believe scrapping VAR would create inconsistency for teams playing in Europe and render the five years of investment in the system useless.
The Wolves, on the other hand, have been vocal about their dissatisfaction with VAR and have submitted a resolution calling for its removal at the league’s annual general meeting. The Wolves 1877 Supporters Trust has urged fans of other clubs to join their cause, stating that VAR has taken the enjoyment out of the game with little benefit.
Meanwhile, Championship clubs have shown little enthusiasm for introducing VAR in their league next season. Witnessing the Premier League’s experience with VAR has contributed to this lack of enthusiasm, along with cost considerations. The Football Supporters’ Association conducted a survey that revealed only 5.5% of fans who experienced VAR in stadiums rated their experience as good or very good. The majority of fans (63.3%) were against its continued use, citing the length of time taken for decisions and the removal of spontaneity from goal celebrations as key concerns.
The Premier League acknowledges the need for improvements in the VAR system, but fully supports its continued use. The league’s chief football officer, Tony Scholes, admitted that the in-stadium experience of VAR was not up to par and announced plans to trial a communication protocol where referees would inform fans of the final outcome of a VAR review. The league is also working with the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to progress the issue of broadcasting live audio during matches.
Despite the controversies and criticisms surrounding VAR, the Premier League highlights the increased number of correct decisions since its introduction. The league claims that with VAR assistance, 96% of ‘key match incident’ decisions are now correct, compared to 82% in the final season before VAR was implemented.
In conclusion, the debate over VAR’s future in the Premier League continues, with Liverpool and another unnamed club supporting its use while the Wolves and many fans express their dissatisfaction. While there are concerns about the consistency and enjoyment of the game, the league is committed to improving the system and points to the higher accuracy of decisions with VAR. The decision on whether to scrap or continue VAR will be made at the league’s annual general meeting.