The English Premier League is set to enhance transparency in VAR decision-making.
Howard Webb, the Chief Refereeing Officer, has proposed that referees should announce both in-stadium and on television the reasons behind any decision changes following a review at the pitch-side VAR monitor.
The proposal is something that Scottish fans have been calling out for for some time now. In the stadium, fans are left in the dark with no explanation as to why a decision has been reached after the referee has been sent to the monitor. On top of this, there are no replays on the big screens to offer fans a second viewing.
This change is part of an ongoing effort to refine the VAR system which has faced widespread criticism.
According to Webb, the new approach will be applied exclusively when referees alter their initial decisions after consulting the VAR monitor, not for routine VAR checks that uphold the on-field calls. [ESPN]
The introduction of this measure still requires approval from the Premier League, but it is anticipated to pass without significant opposition and be implemented from the next season onwards.
This change is expected to address one of the critical areas of fan dissatisfaction with VAR—the lack of transparency and immediate understanding of decision-making during matches.
