Major VAR Decision Impacts Top Three London Clubs

The Premier League won’t alter its use of VAR for the 2023/24 season, as reported.

The current system has faced a lot of criticism since being introduced into English football, with referees and officials under the spotlight and key decision-making widely criticised by fans and experts.

Following a trial of new offside technology in the Champions League by UEFA, and the World Cup by FIFA, the Premier League has decided not to use the automated offside system. According to The Times, clubs voted against the artificial intelligence system for offside decisions.

It looks like we’ll have to wait until the 2024/25 season, at the earliest, before the system is used in the league, even though it worked well in West Ham’s Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina.

The system uses extra cameras to follow the action, producing a computer-made image of the scene without needing human input or extra on-screen lines. The VAR official then decides if the attacker was influencing the play.

There will, however, be more cameras for officials next season, following two instances where camera coverage was insufficient. Still, the cameras don’t guarantee flawless decisions, as referees still have to draw lines and make calls.

As many as nine top-level clubs already have the setup and tech to accommodate the new hawk-eye system, but only those in the Champions League next season will use it.

It was previously used with a chip in the ball, but UEFA’s semi-automated system relies solely on cameras and technology that tracks limbs, it’s reported.

Tests on the system’s use continue, under the watchful eye of the chief refereeing officer, Howard Webb.