Premier League clubs vote against scrapping VAR

Premier League clubs have voted in favour of retaining the controversial Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system next season.

19 out of the 20 Premier League clubs voted to continue using VAR at the top-flight clubs’ Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Harrogate, England, on Thursday.

Only Wolves – who last month triggered the vote to scrap the much-maligned system – had backed its’ abolition.

In order for VAR to be scrapped, 14 clubs needed to vote in favour of removing it.

Wolves accused VAR of “undermining the value of the Premier League brand” after another season of several debatable decisions.

VAR was introduced in the Premier League at the start of the 2019-20 season with the aim of helping referees avoid clear and obvious errors that had marred matches in the past.

There were numerous controversies surrounding VAR during the recently concluded 2023-24 campaign, with Premier League managers and fans growing increasingly vocal in their disdain for the system.

Following Thursday’s vote, Wolves, in a statement, expressed frustration at the outcome but welcomed the Premier League‘s desire to improve VAR.

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Wolves noted: “While we are disappointed with the outcome of the vote on the future of VAR at today’s Annual General Meeting, we acknowledge and accept the decision made by our fellow clubs and we are reassured that the Premier League is taking the concerns of clubs and supporters seriously.

“We welcome the commitment to improve VAR, particularly in areas that address delays, consistency, and fan experience.

“While we still believe that Premier League football would be superior for supporters, players, coaches and viewers without VAR, we think that these improvements are crucial for the integrity of the game and for enhancing the overall matchday experience for our supporters.

“Wolves remain committed to working closely with the Premier League and PGMOL to ensure that VAR continues to evolve and better serve the interests of football.

“We appreciate the efforts being made to address the issues that we have highlighted in our resolution and look forward to seeing whether the changes implemented this summer can reverse the decline in matchday experience for our fans, and respect for our officials.”

The Premier League, its clubs, and referees’ body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) acknowledged that improvements needed to be made for the benefit of the game and supporters.

Semi-automated offside technology is set to be introduced in the autumn, which top-flight sources say will reduce the length of time required for offside checks, while in-stadium announcements will be made where an on-field decision is changed following a VAR intervention.

The Star