The Premier League approves the continuation of VAR, recognizing the need for enhancements in the disputed system.
VAR has faced criticism ever since it debuted in the Premier League during the 2019-20 season. Last season, the technology became even more controversial as referees made several questionable decisions with the help of VAR.
To address these issues, the Premier League has discussed making improvements to how VAR is implemented. These improvements include enhancing the fan experience during VAR checks, providing more thorough training to officials, and increasing transparency and communication about the system.
Starting with the 2024-25 season, the Premier League will be introducing semi-automated offside technology (SAOT). This technology is already being used in the Champions League and was also employed during the 2022 World Cup.
The Premier League has stated that SAOT will be used for the first time in their league after one of the autumn international breaks, assuming it's ready by then. All rule changes and significant broadcast and commercial proposals need the support of at least two-thirds of the clubs (a minimum of 14 teams) to be implemented.
As per reports from the BBC, 19 out of the 20 teams in the Premier League voted to keep VAR, while Wolves wanted it removed. Wolves took this stance following their discontent with several refereeing decisions this 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," stated Wolves in a statement to CNN. "But after five seasons of VAR in the Premier League, it's time for a constructive and critical debate about its future. Our position is that the cost we're paying for marginal improvements in accuracy is not in line with the fundamental essence of our game, so we propose to eliminate it from the 2024-25 season onwards."
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Despite Wolves' discontent with several refereeing decisions this season, they still voted to keep VAR in the Premier League.Football enthusiasts can look forward to the introduction of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) in the league starting from the 2024-25 season, which has already been successful in events like the Champions League and the 2022 World Cup.
