Tremor in English football: the VAR is under scrutiny, a vote will be taken to eliminate it from the Premier

The initiative is from Wolverhamptonwhich has been sent to the Premier League a formal request to put an end to the VAR, which, according to him, came “in good faith” but has ultimately had “negative consequences that damage the relationship between fans and football.”

The proposal now needs the support of the clubs in the assembly on June 6, in which 14 favorable votes from the twenty that make up the Premier are required for the idea to prosper.

The VAR, according to the Wolverhamptonhas caused a “decrease in the responsibility of referees on the field and a fall in their authority on the field of play.”

And it refers to “continuous errors despite the VARwith fans who do not accept human error after several repetitions”, as well as the excessive “lengthening of matches and the increase in added time”, he points out.

The Wolves They indicate that “after five seasons of VAR in the Premier, it is time for a constructive debate about its future” and point out that the price paid “for a small increase in precision goes against the spirit of the game.” “For this reason, it should be eliminated starting next season,” he emphasizes.

“The introduction of VAR in 2019-20 was a decision taken in good faith and in the best interests of football and the Premier League. However, it has led to numerous unintended negative consequences that damage the relationship between fans and football and weaken the value of the Premier League brand,” says the statement issued by Wolves.

The note refers, among other aspects, to the “impact on the celebration of goals and passion, as well as the confusion experienced on the fields while the plays are being examined.”

Wolves have formally submitted a resolution to the Premier League to trigger a vote at the league’s Annual General Meeting in June, on the removal of VAR from the start of the 2024/25 season.

The introduction of VAR in 2019/20 was a decision taken in good faith and with the best interests of football and the Premier League in mind. However, it has led to numerous unintended negative consequences that are damaging the relationship between fans and football and undermining the value of the Premier League brand, including:

– Impact on the celebration of goals and the spontaneous passion that makes football special.

– Frustration and confusion within stadiums due to long VAR checks and poor communication.

– A more hostile environment with protests, boos of the Premier League anthem and chants against the VAR.

– Excess of the original purpose of the VAR of correcting clear and obvious errors, now analyzing subjective decisions and compromising the fluidity and integrity of the game.

– Decreased responsibility of referees on the field, due to the VAR safety net, leading to an erosion of authority on the field.

– Continuous errors despite VAR, with fans unable to accept human error after multiple views and replays, damaging confidence in refereeing standards.

– Disruption of the fast pace of the Premier League with lengthy VAR reviews and more added time, causing matches to become excessively long.

– The constant talk about VAR decisions often overshadows the match itself and tarnishes the reputation of the league.

– Erosion of trust and reputation, with the VAR fueling completely absurd accusations of corruption.

The decision to table the resolution came after careful consideration and with the utmost respect for the Premier League, PGMOL and our fellow competitors.

There is no one to blame: we are all looking for the best possible outcome for football and all stakeholders have been working hard to try to make the introduction of additional technology a success.

However, after five seasons of VAR in the Premier League it is time for a constructive and critical debate about its future.

Our position is that the price we are paying for a small increase in accuracy goes against the spirit of our game and as a result we should remove it from the 2024/25 season.
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SPORTS
With EFE.