The new tech in football, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is not going down well with football clubs, players, coaches, and fans, and recently, English Premier League teams are sending in letters regarding the scrapping of VAR.
“Wolves have formally submitted a resolution to the Premier League to trigger a vote at the league’s AGM in June, on the removal of VAR from the start of the 2024/25 season,” an official statement from the Premier League on Wednesday said.
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, which include:
1• Impact on goal celebrations and the spontaneous passion that makes football special.
2• Frustration and confusion inside stadiums due to lengthy VAR checks and poor communication.
3• A more hostile atmosphere with protests, booing of the Premier League anthem and chants against VAR.
4• Overreach of VAR’s original purpose to correct clear and obvious mistakes, now overanalysing subjective decisions and compromising the game’s fluidity and integrity.
5• Diminished accountability of on-field officials, due to safety net of VAR, leading to an erosion of authority on the pitch.
6• Continued errors despite VAR, with supporters unable to accept human error after multiple views and replays, damaging confidence in officiating standards.
7• Disruption of the Premier League’s fast pace with lengthy VAR checks and more added time, causing matches to run excessively long.
8• Constant discourse about VAR decisions often overshadowing the match itself, and tarnishing the reputation of the league.
9• Erosion of trust and reputation, with VAR fuelling completely nonsensical allegations of corruption.
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“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.
“There is no blame to be placed – we are all just looking for the best possible outcome for football – and all stakeholders have been working hard to try and make the introduction of additional technology a success.
“However, after five seasons of VAR in the Premier League it is time for a constructive and critical debate on its future.
“Our position is that the price we are paying for a small increase in accuracy is at odds with the spirit of our game, and as a result, we should remove it from the 2024/25 season onwards,” the statement added.
