Premier League Set to Introduce VAR

VAR at the World Cup

The video referral system was tested this summer during the FIFA World Cup finals. The experiment was widely considered to be a success by spectators and competitors alike. The system is also currently in use in major leagues such as La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga. Since the World Cup this summer, there has been little to no major controversies involving the VAR system. This may explain why clubs who voted against the system last season seem to have had a change of heart.

Poor English referees

Poor refereeing decisions have been a major part of the English top flight in recent years. The standard of refereeing has gone down as the speed of the game has increased. The most damming example of how far England’s referees have fallen is the fact that not a single one was selected to participate in last summers FIFA World Cup. The likes of Gambia, Tahiti and Uzbekistan were all represented .

VAR will inevitably improve the decision making capabilities of officials. However, the FA would be foolish to presume that because referees have more tools at their disposal, they will suddenly become world class in their role. The refereeing system in England needs a drastic overhaul. VAR will likely only temporarily paper over the cracks. FIFA officials trusting part-time referees over professional English officials with new technology on the biggest stage should have been the a massive wake up call.

The FA tested the system in the FA Cup last season. The trial games which had VAR last season were a disaster. Officials were slow and got a lot of decisions wrong. The English officials abused the system, using it for straightforward calls. These antics turned many fans and clubs against the system. The FA bringing its officials up to the standard of the World Cup referees is vital for its success.

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