Premier League teams will deliberate over axing VAR in upcoming campaigns.
A vote is scheduled to take place at the annual general meeting of all 20 clubs on June 6, where Wolves need 14 clubs to back their proposal. Any of the league's 20 clubs can present an idea for voting.
Wolves have questioned the necessity of VAR, which was introduced to the Premier League in the 2019-2020 season, after a controversial goal was disallowed against West Ham last month. Their chairman, Jeff Shi, expressed concerns about whether VAR is really the desired technology for football.
Wolves issued a statement to CNN, saying, "The decision to bring forth this resolution was made after thorough deliberation and with great regard for the Premier League, PGMOL, and our fellow participants."
"We don't wish to place blame on anyone – we're all searching for the best thing for football. Everyone has been working hard to make the addition of this technology successful. However, it's been five seasons of VAR in the Premier League, and it's time for a critical, constructive debate on its future."
They argued that paying for a small increase in accuracy clashes with the essence of the game, and as a result, VAR should be removed from the 2024/2025 season onwards.
Wolves highlighted various problems with VAR, which they believe are harming the connection between fans and football and devaluing the Premier League brand. These include VAR's impact on fan celebrations of goals, frustration and confusion in stadiums caused by lengthy VAR checks, ongoing mistakes by officials despite the replay system, and the erosion of authority for on-field referees.
Wolves also stated that VAR is fueling unfounded accusations of corruption, resulting in the erosion of trust and reputation for the Premier League.
However, the Premier League released a statement opposing Wolves' resolution. "The Premier League can confirm that it will hold a discussion on VAR with our clubs at the Annual General Meeting next month. Clubs are allowed to submit proposals at Shareholders' gatherings, and we recognize the concerns and difficulties around the use of VAR," the statement read.
"The League strongly supports the use of VAR and remains dedicated, along with PGMOL, to continuously improve the system for the good of the game and fans."
Despite being utilized in all major European leagues, Sweden recently decided to abandon VAR after Swedish football association chairman Fredrik Reinfeldt said last month that the technology would not be implemented in the current season following opposition from clubs.
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The proposal to potentially remove VAR from the Premier League in future seasons was initiated by Wolves due to concerns over its impact on fan experiences and the game's essence. In light of these concerns, the debate around the future of VAR in football has gained significance.
Source: edition.cnn.com
