Refs make change to end video nasties
PREMIER League refs have been told to give attackers benefit of the doubt when looking at VAR offsides this season.
After complaints from players, fans and managers, there are being changes made to the video ref system.
They are going to use thicker lines when looking at VAR offside decisions.
That is designed to end the crazy calls when attackers are flagged for their armpit being an inch offside.
It’s thought that as many as 20 disallowed goals would have stood last season if that rule was used.
Offside has been one of the biggest bugbears in the first season of VAR.
But attackers should find it harder to win penalties when the Premier League kicks off again.
Referees have been told that the slightest contact will no longer be enough to award a spot kick.
Strikers got more and more canny as last season went on when buying penalties.
Talking
The change will hopefully stop all the diving.
Chief ref Mike Riley said: “We spent a lot of time last season talking to the clubs, players, managers and to fans’ groups, looking at how we can improve refereeing within the context of Premier League football.
“Some of the things are VAR-related, like marginal offsides, but fundamentally we want the approach to be one that best allows the players to express themselves — allows the Premier League game to flow.
“It means that the refereeing team of referees and VARs don’t intervene for the trivial offences.
“Referees will look for contact and establish clear contact, then ask themselves the question: does that contact have a consequence?
“They will then ask themselves a question: has the player used that contact to actually try and win a foul penalty? So it’s not sufficient just to say: ‘Yes, there’s contact.”