Wolves put in submission to get rid of VAR

[Jammy89]

Premier League clubs are set to vote on whether to scrap video assistant referees (VAR) after a proposal by Wolves.

The use of technology has infuriated some clubs but the league believes it is effective in eradicating decisions and is being improved.

A Premier League spokesperson said: "The Premier League can confirm it will facilitate a discussion on VAR with our clubs at the annual general meeting next month.

"Clubs are entitled to put forward proposals at shareholders' meetings and we acknowledge the concerns and issues around the use of VAR.

"However, the league fully supports the use of VAR and remains committed, alongside PGMOL [Professional Game Match Officials Limited], to make continued improvements to the system for the benefit of the game and fans."

VAR has been in place in the Premier League since 2019 and is used by major leagues in Europe - although Sweden recently opted against its introduction.

There have been concerns about lengthy delays in Premier League matches caused by VAR checks and on-pitch reviews by referees of incidents on screens.

Matches regularly go beyond 90 minutes with some extending over 100 minutes.

Referees can defer to video replays for scenarios like checking goals, penalties, and straight red cards.

Semi-automated offsides are coming in to reduce delays on checking decisions.

However, Wolves filed the resolution after having been on the end of several controversial refereeing decisions this season.

They warned the decision review system was "undermining the value of the Premier League brand" and added in a statement: "The introduction of VAR in 2019/20 was a decision made in good faith and with the best interests of football and the Premier League at its heart.

"However, it has led to numerous unintended negative consequences that are damaging the relationship between fans and football, and undermining the value of the Premier League brand.

"The decision to table the resolution has come after careful consideration and with the utmost respect for the Premier League, PGMOL and our fellow competitors."

They said they were not looking to place blame, but the price paid for a "small increase in accuracy" was at odds with the "spirit of our game".

[Nufcian]

There’s literally no acceptable excuse for some VAR errors.

I’ve been a supporter of it, but for the delay it has on games it HAS GOT TO get decisions right.

Referee’s have gone backwards, almost relying on VAR… VAR is supposed to be only picking up on clear and obvious… sometime it’s clearly misses them sometimes it gets involved when it shouldn’t.

I’d scrap it, it can f**k off till it is a lot better and ideally a lot more automated so it is consistent up and down the country, week in week out.

[toptoon]

I agree. Goal line technology has no human involvement. I believe there is also an offside tech that requires no human input. I would say that only this type of ‘VAR’ should be used. It’s always right and is an instant decision.

Leave the rest to the on field referee and by all means develop new technologies (again, with no human involvement) for other decisions to give the on field instant assistance to help him make the right decisions.

VAR has destroyed the best part of the game namely the goal celebration and this must be changed.

[Ragatino]

It will be interesting to see how the clubs react to this.

It's clear the PGMOL are incompetent. Gordon's rake by Amarabat was a clear penalty that VAR should have awarded. This is one on half a dozen or more shocking decisions against us when playing a Fraud 6 club.

The human bias is the problem. People with allegiances to top clubs, whilst they can't directly ref matches they support they do get to ref matches of clubs competing with their club.

In those games, their bias is clear. I remember a match where Chelsea had 2 or 3 clear penalty shouts but the VAR official was a known Man U supporter who was VAR on our match the week before and he denied us a decision.

If this is what VAR is and going to be, then it needs to be removed from the game. I'd rather have on-field referees being accountable for their decisions.

The Semi-Auto off-side and goal-line technology is something I'd like to keep as the human element is completely removed.

I wonder if there is some way that the European leagues could do a swap on officials. The English go to ref matches in Germany and the Germans come here.

That way there is no 'conflict of interest' as the refs would be completely impartial.

As it stands things can't continue.

[18nufc92]

Anthony Gordon summed VAR up perfectly in his post-match interview. The idea of VAR is great, the way the officials are contriving to fu(k it up on a constant basis is the real issue. Absolute incompetence. Your average fan off the street could do a better job with zero training and that has got to be a cause for concern. In fact it fuels the conspiracy that corruption is rife in football.

[Ragatino]

Anthony Gordon summed VAR up perfectly in his post-match interview. The idea of VAR is great, the way the officials are contriving to fu(k it up on a constant basis is the real issue. Absolute incompetence. Your average fan off the street could do a better job with zero training and that has got to be a cause for concern. In fact it fuels the conspiracy that corruption is rife in football.

Very well summed up by Gordon and again here by you mate.

In a nutshell!

[ex_pat_magpie]

The whole thing is so controversial yet theoretically ought to be the ideal answer. Because of the first statement it simply comes down to human error or undue and unfair bias. Both of which are literally criminal. Competence in this situation ought to be 100%.

If the police can get criminal information from a camera which is beyond dispute, then trained football officials can do the same. Also the authorities ought to be able to appoint officials who are known to be totally unbiased.

Having said the above, to eliminate cheats, as Rago suggested officials should be totally beyond suspicion and to have them from abroad seems a logical conclusion.

After all every European game is handled by top officials from neutral countries.

[Jammy89]

Anthony Gordon summed VAR up perfectly in his post-match interview. The idea of VAR is great, the way the officials are contriving to fu(k it up on a constant basis is the real issue. Absolute incompetence. Your average fan off the street could do a better job with zero training and that has got to be a cause for concern. In fact it fuels the conspiracy that corruption is rife in football.

Agreed - he'll blatently get slapped down for it but he was spot on.

VAR should work but the fact it doesn't and obviously doesn't leads to these constant calls of corruption etc. and to be honest, I can't disagree at this moment in time.