A general view of the video assistant referee (VAR). Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Premier League to keep, tweak VAR

By Hope Hisey | Last updated Jun 7, 2024 3:57 PM ET

The English Premier League clubs voted to keep VAR on Thursday.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers motioned the league to scrap video assistant referees in May. Needing 14 clubs to vote in favor, the motion lost 19-1 at the annual general meeting.

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil stated the motion came from frustration with "not only the decisions against us, but the way VAR hasn’t seemed to improve the consistency very much."

There is an increasing concern around the league that VAR is disturbing the fan experience and hurting the product on and off the pitch. While the system is here to stay, the league clubs did agree that improvement is necessary.

Clubs today voted in favour of continuing to operate VAR in the Premier League. While VAR produces more accurate decision making, it was agreed that improvements should be made for the benefit of the game and supporters.

There are six areas of focus: https://t.co/Kmb27g2bNH pic.twitter.com/CzSvnvcizW
— Premier League (@premierleague) June 6, 2024

The Premier League identified six areas of focus. "Maintaining a high threshold for VAR intervention" was one of the main objectives, hoping to achieve so with the introduction of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT).

Speeding up the process is pivotal to rectify the fan displeasure with VAR checks. The league believes "more robust" training will accomplish such.

Furthermore, the league wants to expand "communications from Premier League Match Centre and through broadcast programming such as 'Match Officials Mic’d Up.'" Real-time transparency would help remedy the erosion of trust between referees, on and off the field, and fans.

The league is looking into "a fan and stakeholder VAR communication campaign" to help fans not only trust but understand VAR's purpose. While these supporter-centric ideas are good in theory, the system's purpose is not widely misunderstood. Most fans of the Premier League acknowledge that video assistant referees are supposed to alert the on-field referees of any "clear and obvious errors."

Supporters struggle more with the execution of VAR. The technology cannot mask an inability to apply the rules of the game consistently. The standard of the video assistant referees must increase across the board if the league wants to rid VAR of its current infamy.

SAOT will help eliminate the human error when determining offsides. However, a more consistent, concise approach when video refereeing other aspects of the game fall on the people behind the screens rather than the system itself.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said it best a few weeks ago.

Jurgen Klopp says he would vote to scrap VAR but adds: “These people aren't able to use it properly. VAR is not the problem.”
— David Lynch (@dmlynchlfc) May 17, 2024

Like any top sports league in the world, the Premier League must use technology to its advantage. It just needs human beings to stop getting in their own way.

Hope Hisey

Hope Hisey is a professional soccer player. She holds a Master of Legal Studies from the University of Arizona, specializing in sports, media, and entertainment. Her passions include football, basketball, soccer, and golf.

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