Charles Jackson
Premier League clubs will vote on whether or not to abandon the video assistant referee (VAR) system next month, after Wolverhampton Wanderers formally tabled a resolution, triggering a vote on the issue. For the resolution to be approved, 14 of the 20 clubs – a two-thirds majority – will need to vote in favor of removing the technology-based system. The measure will be voted on on June 6, when clubs will meet for the Premier League’s annual general meeting.
Wolves’ request comes after another season of controversy surrounding VAR, including the bizarre miscommunication which led to Liverpool’s goal being disallowed in the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in September and Nottingham Forest questioning the integrity of the video assistant referee assigned to your team. game in the 2-0 defeat to Everton last month.
Wolves’ complaint includes “frustration and confusion within stadiums due to lengthy VAR checks and poor communication”, as well as “a more hostile atmosphere with protests, booing of the Premier League anthem and chants against VAR”. by Sky Sports. The club also argues that there is an “exaggeration of VAR’s original purpose of correcting clear and obvious errors, now overanalysing subjective decisions and compromising the fluidity and integrity of the game”.
The Wolves did not openly complain about any potential decisions they felt were unfairly against them, but by some accounts the decisions were not necessarily in their favor. ESPN Estimates that the team has lost 17 points on VAR-related decisions in the last five years, more than anyone else by a wide margin. Whether or not this impacted teams in any notable way is up for debate – football.londres measurements that Wolves would actually be three places below their current 13th place if there was no VAR this season. Furthermore, title battles, European competition places and relegation appear almost entirely unaffected by VAR-related decisions this season.
What the Premier League table would be like without VAR decisions
1. Manchester City, 88 points (–)
2. Arsenal, 85 points (-1)
3.Liverpool, 76 points (-3)
4. Aston Villa, 75 points (+7)
5. Tottenham, 63 points (–)
6. Newcastle, 57 points (–)
7. Chelsea, 57 points (-3)
8. Man United, 52 points (-5)
9. West Ham, 49 points (-3)
10. Fulham, 49 points (+5)
11. Brighton, 47 points (-1)
12. Bournemouth, 47 points (-1)
13. Crystal Palace, 44 points (-2)
14. Everton, 43 points (+3)
15. Brentford, 41 points (+2)
16. Wolves, 40 points (-6)
17. Nottingham Forest, 34 points (+5)
18.Burnley, 26 points (+2)
19. Luton Town, 25 points (-1)
20. Sheffield United, 13 points (-3)
Despite its perceived unpopularity, the VAR system appears to have the support of the majority of Premier League clubs by BBC. This includes Liverpool, despite calling for “a review with full transparency” following the incident against Tottenham in October.
The system also has the support of the Premier League, as communicated to The Athletic.
“Clubs have the right to present proposals at shareholder meetings and we recognize the concerns and issues surrounding the use of VAR,” the league said. “However, the league fully supports the use of VAR and remains committed, together with the PGMOL, to making ongoing improvements to the system for the benefit of the game and fans.”
