VAR: Premier League Warns of More Incorrect Decisions if It’s Scrapped
The Premier League has sent a briefing document to all 20 clubs explaining why it believes Video Assistant Referees (VAR) should remain in use. Wolves had submitted a resolution to scrap VAR, triggering a vote on its continued use. However, the Premier League believes that removing VAR would lead to approximately 100 more incorrect refereeing decisions per season. While it acknowledges that scrapping VAR would result in fewer interruptions and delays, it also warns that match-defining decisions made by on-field referees, which were incorrect, would not be overturned without VAR. The Premier League also cites the low number of incorrect VAR interventions last season (only five) compared to the number of correct calls (105). It argues that keeping VAR is necessary due to the league’s contractual commitment to significant operating costs for the next three years. The Premier League also raises concerns about the potential damage to its reputation if it becomes the only major European league to remove VAR.
In the same briefing document, the Premier League acknowledges the issues with VAR that need to be addressed. One of these issues is the amount of time it takes for decisions to be made. The average delay for a single VAR check in the 2023-24 season was 64 seconds, an increase from 40 seconds in the previous season. To address this concern, the Premier League plans to introduce in-game VAR announcements from referees, a change that has been implemented in FIFA competitions, such as the Women’s World Cup in 2023.
While most Premier League clubs, including Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Liverpool, want to keep VAR but demand improvements, Wolves remain firm in their support of scrapping VAR. They argue that VAR has led to increased disengagement among match-going fans, negatively impacting their experience and eroding trust in football’s authorities and officials. They also question the credibility and convincing nature of the data that shows an increase in correct decisions with VAR. Wolves believe that the cost in terms of match enjoyment and fan engagement outweighs the benefits of increased accuracy.
The debate over VAR in the Premier League is complex. While the league acknowledges the need for improvements, it also presents statistics that support the effectiveness of VAR in reducing errors. However, the concerns raised by Wolves about the impact on fan experience and trust cannot be ignored. The introduction of in-game VAR announcements may address some of the issues related to delays, but it remains to be seen if it will be enough to satisfy all clubs. The upcoming vote on the future of VAR in the Premier League will undoubtedly have significant implications for the league’s reputation and the way football matches are officiated in England.