The Premier League have reportedly chalked up a six-point plan to improve VAR ahead of the new season – including semi-automated offsides.
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PL to introduce "referee's call"Semi-automated offside tech to be introducedRefs will receive training for increased efficiencyWHAT HAPPENED?
As the Premier League gears up for the new season, significant changes are on the horizon with a concerted effort to refine the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. Following a season marred by criticism and controversy surrounding the implementation of VAR, the Premier League, in collaboration with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), has devised a six-point plan aimed at addressing these issues and enhancing the overall experience for players, officials, and fans alike, according to various reports.
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The decision to implement these changes came after extensive consultation with various stakeholders in the Premier League, including managers, team captains, sporting directors, chief executives, and even club owners.
One of the most notable innovations in the new plan is the introduction of semi-automated offside technology, set to debut in the autumn. This technology is designed to significantly reduce the time spent on offside decisions, cutting down the checking time by more than 30 seconds. The Premier League sees this as a crucial step forward in streamlining the decision-making process and reducing interruptions to the flow of the game.
Another key aspect of the plan is the introduction of the “referee’s call” concept. This move is aimed at clarifying the threshold for VAR intervention, particularly in subjective situations. VAR officials are now instructed that clear and obvious errors are necessary for intervention, ensuring that the original decision made by the on-field referee stands unless there is undeniable evidence to overturn it. The league hopes that “referee’s call” will become as ingrained in football terminology as “umpire’s call” is in cricket, where the benefit of the doubt on marginal decisions is given to the on-field official.
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Improving the experience for fans, both in-stadium and at home, is another major focus of the new plan. The Premier League intends to pilot a system where referees announce VAR decisions in stadiums, providing real-time explanations to supporters. Additionally, there will be an increase in the number of replays and enhanced messaging on big screens to keep fans informed of the decisions being made. This initiative is part of a broader effort to make the VAR process more transparent and engaging .
The fourth and fifth points of the plan are centred around improving VAR training and consistency among officials, as well as improving transparency and communication with the public. The Premier League recognises the importance of consistent decision-making and has committed to additional training for VAR officials to achieve this goal. Transparency will be bolstered through better communication, including a new social media account dedicated to explaining VAR decisions in real time, which will be accessible to fans.
The final component of the plan focuses on education. The Premier League aims to better educate fans, players, managers, and club officials on the VAR process. This initiative includes explaining why certain decisions are made and what changes are being implemented. To further improve the experience for fans at stadiums, QR codes may be displayed on big screens, directing them to detailed explanations of VAR decisions.
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In conjunction with these improvements, the Premier League has also issued a warning to managers and clubs regarding public criticism of VAR. The league has made it clear that such actions could undermine the integrity of the competition and harm the Premier League’s brand.