Premier League clubs to consider removing VAR in the upcoming season

Premier League clubs will decide on the future of VAR for next season at their annual general meeting on June 6. Wolverhampton Wanderers have proposed to scrap VAR, and the vote will require at least 14 clubs to support the resolution for it to be approved. Any club in the league has the opportunity to suggest a proposal for consideration.

Wolves have experienced frustration with several refereeing decisions this season. Chairman Jeff Shi has raised concerns about the use of VAR in the Premier League. He questioned whether VAR is truly beneficial for football after a controversial goal was disallowed against West Ham last month.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 4: Players surround referee Stuart Attwell as VAR checks the Newcastle United goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on November 4, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)

On November 4, during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, players gathered around referee Stuart Attwell as VAR checked the Newcastle United goal. The intense moment was captured by photographer Alex Dodd from CameraSport/Getty Images.

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Wolves have decided to postpone the resolution after thoughtful deliberation and out of respect for the Premier League, PGMOL, and other teams. In a statement to CNN, Wolves mentioned that no one is to blame as everyone is striving for the best for football. All parties involved have been putting in effort to ensure the successful implementation of extra technology.

After five seasons of VAR in the Premier League, it is important to have a constructive and critical discussion about its future. Our stance is that the slight improvement in accuracy is not worth the negative impact it has on the essence of our game. Therefore, we believe it should be eliminated from the 2024/25 season onwards.

Wolves has highlighted several concerns with VAR, stating that it is harming the connection between fans and football, as well as diminishing the value of the Premier League brand.

VAR has had various impacts on fans, affecting their celebrations of goals. There is also a sense of frustration and confusion in stadiums caused by lengthy VAR checks. Despite the replay system, officials continue to make errors which has led to a perceived erosion of authority for on-field referees.

According to Wolves, VAR is leading to unfounded allegations of corruption and is damaging the trust and reputation of the Premier League.

The Premier League has stated that they do not support the resolution. They mentioned that they will be discussing VAR with the clubs at the upcoming Annual General Meeting. The spokesperson mentioned that clubs have the right to propose ideas at Shareholders' meetings, and they understand the concerns and problems related to VAR.

Wolves listed the negative impact on fan experiences in the stadium as a reason to scrap the technology.

Wolves listed the negative impact on fan experiences in the stadium as a reason to scrap the technology.

The League fully supports the use of VAR and is dedicated to making ongoing improvements to the system in collaboration with PGMOL. This is to enhance the game experience for both players and fans.

VAR is widely used in major European leagues. However, Sweden has recently made a high-profile decision to reject VAR. Swedish football association chairman Fredrik Reinfeldt announced last month that the technology would not be implemented this season, following opposition from clubs.

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming Premier League meeting will determine the fate of VAR, a technology that has sparked controversy among fans and clubs alike. Wolverhampton Wanderers' proposal to scrap VAR highlights concerns about its negative impact on the game's flow, fan engagement, and the integrity of the league. Wolves' experiences with contentious refereeing decisions, including a disallowed goal against West Ham, have fueled their belief that VAR is detrimental to the essence of football.

Despite the Premier League's support for VAR and its commitment to improving the system, Wolves' stance reflects a growing sentiment among some clubs and fans that VAR has fundamentally altered the game and diminished its entertainment value. The lengthy checks, overturned decisions, and alleged errors have led to frustration and confusion, eroding the authority of on-field referees and casting doubt on the fairness of the competition. The meeting on June 6 will be a crucial moment in the ongoing debate over VAR's future in the Premier League, with the outcome potentially shaping the league's approach to technology for years to come.