VAR:

the PGMOL's stance:

Since its introduction to the Premier League in the 2019/2020 season, VAR, as envisioned by the FA, aimed to be a transformative addition akin to the 3rd umpire in cricket or tennis. The technology, providing crucial support to referees, has proven highly successful in those sports. PGMOL, overseeing officiating, has consistently expressed strong support for VAR. Despite ongoing debates and occasional controversies, they advocate for patience, asserting that VAR is a potential revolutionary long-term project for football. PGMOL believes that with time and continued refinement, VAR will contribute significantly to the fairness and accuracy of decision-making in the sport.

The fans/players view:

A lot of fans have come into criticism of VAR, they say it is slowing the game down and some also think that it intervenes too much in the premier league. In the 22/23 campaign, an average Premier League game provided a minimum of one intervention by VAR, on average a VAR decision takes around 84 seconds. This is gradually increasing the intensity of fixture congestion and can be extremely harmful for the players. On the 7th of August Manchester United player Raphael Varane tweeted his concern about the impact of fixture congestion, 5 months prior to this he retired from international football. This raises the point if VAR is used, should it be decreased to facilitate player wellbeing.

how VAR can be improved

Despite the PGMOL's scepticism towards the semi-automated offside AI technology introduced in the World Cup, instances like the Liverpool vs. Tottenham match exposed human errors persisting in officiating decisions. The controversial offside call involving Luis Diaz highlighted the potential shortcomings of relying solely on traditional officiating.

Additionally, the broader problem of inconsistent red card decisions further erodes confidence in VAR. The ongoing debate underscores the need for continual refinement and standardized application to address the challenges in maintaining fairness and accuracy in football officiating through technology.