Five years after Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was implemented in the English Premier League, questions are being asked of its “negative consequences”read more
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 "Explained: How Premier League clubs can get rid of VAR (1)")
Since VAR has been used, 96% of the decisions are correct, according to the English Premier League. AP
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was introduced in English Premier League in 2019 with the aim of improving decision making, avoid clear and obvious errors that have affected games in the past. In the process, numerous controversies have crept in surrounding the technology this season alone as managers, fans and players have expressed disdain for the system.
The latest salvo against the VAR system has been fired by Wolves who have submitted a resolution to abolish the technology from next season.
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What did Wolves say in their case against VAR?
Wolves released a statement saying, “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 (body responsible for refereeing games) and our fellow competitors.
“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 club listed a host of issues due to VAR, such as:
Impact on goal celebrations and the spontaneous passion that makes football special
Frustration and confusion inside stadiums due to lengthy VAR checks and poor communication
A more hostile atmosphere with protests, booing of the Premier League anthem and chants against VAR
Overreach of VAR’s original purpose to correct clear and obvious mistakes, now overanalysing subjective decisions and compromising the game’s fluidity and integrity
Diminished accountability of on-field officials, due to the safety net of VAR, leading to an erosion of authority on the pitch
Continued errors despite VAR, with supporters unable to accept human error after multiple views and replays, damaging confidence in officiating standards
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Constant discourse about VAR decisions often overshadowing the match itself, and tarnishing the reputation of the league
Erosion of trust and reputation, with VAR fuelling completely nonsensical allegations of corruption
Wolves manager Gary O’Neil revealed he has regularly received apologetic phone calls from Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Howard Webb after VAR decisions have gone against them.
What issues have plagued VAR this season?
— Magpie 24/7 (@Magpie24_7) May 16, 2024Anthony Gordon on VAR:
"I don’t see the point of it.
Either get rid of it or get better, it’s very simple."#NUFC #NUFCFans #Newcastle
🎥 Courtesy of Sky Sports pic.twitter.com/w6CeBWGN5W
Liverpool’s Luis Diaz had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside against Tottenham Hotspur in September.
Later, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left upset by the decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s winner to stand for Newcastle United against his side in November.
Nottingham Forest have publicly decried the technologyand its implementation during their defeat to Everton - questioning the appointment of Stuart Attwell as the VAR.
The latest case against VAR came in Manchester United vs Newcastle United game at Old Trafford. Anthony Gordon had a penalty appeal rejected by VAR despite visuals showing that he had been clipped and enough that the socks had been torn off.
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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe backed the bid to remove the system.
“I thought it was a penalty. I’ve always been in an era where the referee makes the decision and I’d still back that, even if it means we don’t get penalties like today. I want more power with referees,” he said.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino was more cautious following their win at Brighton.
“Next season we have to see if we can improve how we use VAR. For me it’s not in or out, it’s about improving how we use it,” he said.
“It can be amazing to have it in the right way and VAR can be a fantastic tool to help the referees and us.”
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Speaking in his role as a pundit on Sky Sports, former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said he didn’t like VAR and that it was “taking all the enjoyment out of the game.”
“We’re still getting human error with VAR, so if we’re going to still get that, let them just do it on the pitch because otherwise it’s just slowing everything down,” Rooney said. “It’s taking minutes and minutes to get to the decision, which is still a human being making the final decision.”
Sweden’s Allsvenskan is the only top European league to reject the use of VARwith intention of staying away from “modern, commercialised-to-the-point-of-destruction football”.
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How can VAR be scrapped?
VAR just ruled this Liverpool goal offside. Further proof that VAR is the worst innovation in world football history. Scrap it. 😡😡 pic.twitter.com/bH3RHHOkcv
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 2, 2019
Premier League clubs will get a chance to vote in favour or against the use of VAR from next season at their annual general meeting on 6 June.
Wolves, who play their football at the Molineux, have argued that VAR is “undermining the value of the Premier League brand” after a season of debatable decisions.
In order for VAR to be axed by the Premier League, 14 of the 20 clubs will have to vote against it.
With that in mind, Wolves are expected to seek support from other clubs before the meeting.
How have the Premier League reacted?
The Premier League still believes VAR is valuable.
The English top-flight, which is in regular dialogue with referees’ governing body PGMOL, believes the number of incorrect decisions would increase without VAR - further damaging the competition’s reputation.
According to the league, the number of correct decisions made has gone from 82% prior to the introduction of VAR to 96% this season.
“The Premier League can confirm it will facilitate a discussion on VAR with our clubs at the Annual General Meeting next month,” a Premier League spokesperson said.
“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 and fans.”
The league has argued that innovations such as semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) — which was voted through unanimously — and in-stadium VAR announcements are evidences of efforts being made to improve the system.
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