The Premier League’s VAR era may be on the verge of ending.
Wolves is behind a resolution to abandon VAR, with the Premier League set to vote on the matter on June 6 at its annual general meeting.
In a statement published by The Athletic, Wolves referred to VAR as being “at odds with the spirit of our game,” calling for Premier League clubs to end the practice starting with the 2024-25 season.
“There is no blame to be placed — we are all just looking for the best possible outcome for football — and all stakeholders have been working hard to try and make the introduction of additional technology a success,” read Wolves’ statement.
“However, after five seasons of VAR in the Premier League, it is time for a constructive and critical debate on its future.”
The Premier League adopted VAR for the 2019-20 season and has used it ever since. However, many calls — particularly those involving offside, which the Premier League adjudicates with visible lines provided via Hawk-Eye technology — are narrow enough that controversy remains regardless, leaving few parties satisfied.
The Premier League, in a statement to The Athletic, said that clubs are “entitled to put forward proposals at shareholders’ meetings and we acknowledge the concerns and issues around the use of VAR.”
However, the league added that it remains “in support of VAR.” The Wolves proposal will require 13 of the other 19 Premier League clubs to agree for the league to abandon the practice.
In April, the Premier League approved the implementation for semi-automated offside technology — something along the lines of what was introduced at the 2022 World Cup — for the 2024-25 season, though it may not be introduced at the very beginning of the campaign.
Premier League data supports continuing with VAR
Among the world’s top leagues, VAR is extraordinarily commonplace. 29 of UEFA’s 30 top-ranked leagues use it, with the only exception coming after clubs in Sweden’s top flight rejected a VAR proposal last month.
Multiple clubs have lashed out at VAR over the course of this season. Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said it was “it’s time to question whether someone remote disallowing that goal is really what football wants or needs.” after a 2-1 loss to West Ham in April that saw a Wolves goal called back by VAR.
Later in April, Nottingham Forest publicly accused a VAR official of denying the club three penalties due to an alleged allegiance with Luton Town.
Per the BBC, the Premier League claims that the rate of correct refereeing decisions was just 82% before VAR, and has climbed to 96% since its introduction five years ago.
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