Premier League clubs to vote on getting rid of VAR
Premier League clubs are to hold a vote at next month’s AGM to discuss a proposal to scrap VAR from next season.
Wolves have formally put forward a resolution for a league-wide vote to start the 2023-’24 campaign without VAR, having seen several controversies arise since its inception in 2019.
Wolves said in a statement that their submission comes “after careful consideration and with the utmost respect for the Premier League, [referees’ body] 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.”
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, to make continued improvements to the system for the benefit of the game.”
A senior figure at another Premier League club said there was “no chance at all” of enough teams voting for VAR to be scrapped.
The most recent National Supporters Survey carried out by the Football Supporters’ Association, published last June, found that almost two-thirds of fans were against VAR. Referees’ body Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) failed to quell mounting anger towards the system this season after being forced to make emergency changes to its VAR operations following September’s Liverpool offside-goal fiasco.
Two months later, it emerged Premier League managers were demanding another overhaul of a system Mikel Arteta branded a “disgrace” after Arsenal’s controversial defeat at Newcastle.
Richard Bevan, chief executive of the League Managers’Association, confirmed it had held talks with PGMOL about a plan that would see a referee work with the same VAR whenever possible. He also revealed his members were calling for an urgent review of what constituted a “clear and obvious” error amid “much confusion” about the threshold for overturning subjective on-field decisions. (© Telegraph Media Group Ltd, 2024)