Clubs plan ‘robust’ talks to get to grips with VAR failings
Premier League to hear case for appeal system Greater use of pitchside monitors to be discussed
Premier League clubs will discuss whether managers should be allowed to appeal against a refereeing decision during a game in a potentially radical change to how the video assistant referees are used.
At a meeting of the 20 clubs next week, the idea of allowing a set number of appeals – as takes place in other sports, such as cricket – will be put forward.
One chairman told The Daily Telegraph that he would be in favour of each team being given up to three appeals over contentious incidents during a game. However, the Premier League will strongly argue against such a proposal – claiming it would lead to time-wasting and tactical appeals by managers to break up play and run down the clock.
Nevertheless, clubs say there will be a “robust” discussion on the problems experienced with VAR. Although there is an implied threat that some might even call for the suspension of the system, it appears the majority want allow more time for it to be improved.
They are, however, demanding answers with a rising sense of frustration at the way that VAR is used and the potential damage and embarrassment to the Premier League. Some have already written to the league with their concerns.
The Telegraph has canvassed the opinions of several chairmen and one even suggested VAR should be suspended immediately, until it could be perfected, for all decisions except offside. “It is working for offside. I’m not sure it is working for anything else,” he said.
Another chairman said there would be a “robust” discussion, with questions being asked of Mike Riley, the general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, who will deliver a presentation.
Some clubs may also raise the issue of whether other leagues are better equipped to run VAR and whether the Premier League has the right staff.
The Premier League is not against a change in its approach and will be guided by the clubs, although there is not expected to be a vote on suspending VAR. Instead, there is due to be a change in the guidelines with, for example, pitchside monitors being used.
The guidance, which the Premier League points out was agreed with the clubs at the beginning of the season, was for the monitors to be used “sparingly”, to try to minimise delays. Specifically, this meant in two kinds of incidents – an unseen one, such as a player elbowing an opponent off the ball, and where the video official and the referee disagree as to what has exactly happened.
In 110 matches, the pitchside monitors have not been used, but the Premier League accepts that if the clubs want a change it will happen, and not least from a public relations point of view to appease angry supporters.
At the meeting, the Premier League will canvass opinion on other possible changes, which may include replaying incidents referred to VAR on screens for fans.
The Premier League will hold a meeting in Manchester on Thursday for the northern-based managers to discuss VAR. There was a meeting last week at Stockley Park, where the VARS are based, for southern-based managers. Ten managers attended.
Dean Smith, the Aston Villa manager who was at the meeting last Thursday, said: “[After the meetings] the CEOS and the Premier League will get together and decide where they’re taking it. You can’t scrap it now, there’s 28 countries using it. We all wanted it to find the right decisions, but there was always going to be teething problems and we’ve found them.”
One of the managers invited to attend in Manchester is Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp. “I think you all expect a proper improvement from VAR and that is possible,” he said. “It was difficult as well in Germany and it got better. They do things differently. There were some moments – clear offside, handball and that stuff – and that is what we wanted it for. Now I think we discuss referees’ decisions more. We have to improve that. A lot of meetings will happen. As long as we can help, we will try.”
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was among those who attended the meeting last week and he was asked afterwards whether he would be in favour of getting rid of VAR. “I would work with it at the moment and see where we can improve,” he said. “It needs to be a really open conversation – referees, managers, fans, whatever.
“There are so many opinions. It’s not easy. The clinical decisions are an improvement … the clinical nature of offside and goal-line technology is positive. It’s the subjective ones we really need to decide where we are coming from, with this idea of ‘clear and obvious’. At the weekend there were a lot of non-clear and obvious and some were overturned and others weren’t.”
On pitchside monitors, Lampard said: “The reading at the beginning was that it was going to be used sparingly, I think. It’s been used not at all. That’s probably one thing we could look at.”