Premier League clubs will vote on a proposal to abolish video assistant referee (VAR) from the start of next season at their annual general meeting next month.
VAR has been used in the English top flight since 2019, helping to improve decision-making but also causing ongoing controversy.
The 2023–24 season saw many controversial incidents, increasing criticism of VAR and causing some teams and fans to question the integrity of the competition.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have now formally submitted a resolution to the Premier League calling for the abolition of VAR this summer – and which will trigger a vote when representatives from the 20 clubs gather for their annual meeting in Harrogate on June 6.
A statement from Wolves said the move had been made “after careful consideration and with the utmost respect for the Premier League, (referee panel) PGMOL and our competitors.”
“There is no blame – we are all just striving for the best possible outcome for football – and everyone involved has worked hard to make the introduction of additional technology a success.”
“However, after five seasons of VAR in the Premier League, it is time for a constructive and critical debate about his future.
“Our position is that the price we pay for a small increase in accuracy is contrary to the spirit of our game and we should therefore remove it from the 2024/25 season.”
Wolves submitted the decision to the Premier League (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
A Premier League spokesman said: “The Premier League can confirm that it will facilitate a discussion on VAR with our clubs at next month’s annual general meeting.”
“Clubs have the right to make proposals at shareholder meetings and we are aware of the concerns and issues surrounding the use of VAR.
“However, the league fully supports the use of VAR and, together with PGMOL, remains committed to continually improving the system for the benefit of the game and the fans.”
Wolves accepted that the decision to introduce VAR was “taken in good faith and in the best interests of football and the Premier League” but argued that it “has caused numerous unintended negative consequences which are damaging the relationship between fans and football and undermined the value of the Premier League brand”.
They listed a number of impacts such as:
- Effects on goal celebrations and the spontaneous passion that makes football something special
- Frustration and confusion in stadiums due to lengthy VAR checks and poor communication
- A more hostile atmosphere with protests, booing of the Premier League anthem and chants against the VAR
- Exceeding VAR’s original objective of correcting clear and obvious errors, now over-analyzing subjective decisions and compromising the fluidity and integrity of the game
- Due to the safety net of VAR, there is less accountability of officials on the pitch, leading to an erosion of authority on the pitch
- Persistent errors despite VAR, with fans unable to accept human error after multiple viewings and replays, damaging confidence in officiating standards
- Disrupting the high tempo of the Premier League with lengthy VAR checks and more stoppage time, resulting in games lasting excessively long
- Constant discussions about VAR decisions often overshadow the game itself and damage the league’s reputation
- Loss of trust and reputation, VAR fuels completely nonsensical allegations of corruption
VAR has once again been at the center of several high-profile flashpoints over the past nine months.
Liverpool’s Luis Diaz had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside against Tottenham Hotspur in September, before Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was angered by the decision to let Anthony Gordon’s winner for Newcastle United count against his side in November.
Nottingham Forest have written letters of complaint to PGMOL and considered suing them, but also questioned the appointment of VAR Stuart Attwell following April’s defeat at Everton.
Diaz’s disallowed goal was one of several incidents (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
IFAB (International Football Association Board), the independent body responsible for the laws of the game, states that VARs can only assist a match official in the event of a “clear and obvious error” or a “serious missed incident”.
They can intervene in decisions regarding goals, no goals, penalties, direct red cards or cases of confusion.
Sweden last month became the first country to reject the introduction of VAR after a backlash from fans.
Supporters of clubs – which must have a fan participation of at least 51 percent – were the trigger for the decline, after Swedish Football Association president Fredrik Reinfeldt previously supported the idea.
Premier League clubs have the constitutional right to propose rule changes, with each proposal requiring a two-thirds majority (14-6) to be adopted.
The top flight’s board believes abolishing VAR is not the right approach, pointing out it would lead to more bad decisions and have a negative impact on the Premier League’s reputation in Europe’s leading divisions.
They also believe the gap created by the removal of VAR would potentially generate even more criticism of match officials’ on-field decisions and increase fans’ frustration.
The league points to innovations such as semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) – which was unanimously approved in April – and in-stadium VAR announcements as evidence of efforts to improve the system.
(Top photo: David Rogers/Getty Images)
