CHARLIE’S ANGLES

No more Austin meltdowns from next season as Premier League finally gives green light to VAR

VIDEO referees will be used in the Premier League next season after a historic decision.

It was voted through at yesterday’s meeting of the 20 clubs who gave their seal of approval for Video Assistant Referees to be used in the top flight.

Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey (above, right) said: “It is a good thing. I know a lot of people are against it but we’ve got to embrace it now and move forward.

“We’ve seen a number of incidents that have been called wrong this season. As long as we get the training and education right, and we get the right personnel, that’s the most important thing

“The referees will still want to go out and get the key match decisions right.

“It’s very important that referees are not hiding behind the VAR – they’ve still got to be making these big calls correctly.”

The Premier League will still have to make a request to the International Football Association Board and FIFA, but that is seen as a mere formality before video refs are brought in.

It comes after Premier League clubs rejected it at the end of last season following a series of highprofile mistakes and heavy delays when trialled in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. But after extensive research and more trials they are now ready to push it through with ongoing tests being done privately throughout the busiest Premier League Saturday 3pm kick-offs to make sure it can work smoothly.

They also used it in 19 FA Cup and Carabao Cup ties last season and it will be trialled in 60 games this season.

It is already in operation in Germany and Italy and was used at last summer’s World Cup finals, deemed a success by governing body FIFA.

Last weekend Southampton striker Charlie Austin claimed he was denied a goal for an offside decision that would have stood place.

Saints boss Mark Hughes said: “All the major sports have video reviews, but for some reason the Premier League, which is watched around the world, is still in the dark ages.”

The VAR official – a current or former top-level referee – will be used to check on four key incidents:

■ Goals, including ‘missed’ attacking offences in the build-up

■ Penalties awarded and not awarded, including ‘missed’ attacking offences in the build-up

■ Direct red cards

■ Cases of mistaken identity where the wrong player is shown a red or yellow card. if VAR had been in