VAR: Premier League to provide 'live refereeing and VAR clarifications' on social media for 2024/25 season
By Rhys Jones
Published 13/08/2024 at 21:33 GMT+1
The Premier League has launched a new X account ahead of the 2024/25 season, from which they will provide near-live explainers and updates on operational and officiating matters for every Premier League match. Last season saw fans continue to express their frustration at VAR, with one club even tabling a petition to scrap it and another taking to social media to convey their anger.
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The Premier League has revealed a new social media account to improve communication, providing "near-live explainers and updates on operational and officiating matters" during matches.
The new account, with the handle @PLMatchCentre on X, will share explanations of on-pitch refereeing decisions and the video assistant referee (VAR).
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) previously ruled that broadcasting the audio of VAR decisions live during games would be "a chaotic experience," amid fears that live VAR audio could create "an unsafe environment for referees".
The Premier League Match Centre, which is the operational hub of the league based at Stockley Park, will instead aim to relay the near-live information on social media.
"This page will provide live updates from Stockley Park including information directly from the VAR Hub. We will issue near-live updates on operational matters from all matches – including clarification on refereeing and VAR," a tweet from the account said.
"Refereeing and VAR clarifications will be based on the factual information from the VAR Hub and the Premier League Match Centre. Where necessary, additional information on Laws of the Game and VAR process from PGMOL experts will be communicated."
Premier League referees regularly came under fire last season, with fans eager to be given more context and understanding behind the thought process of referring and VAR decisions.
Clubs themselves have taken issue with VAR.
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In April this year, Nottingham Forest took to social media to express their frustration with a trio of "extremely poor" refereeing decisions in a defeat to Everton.
The tweet alleged that Stuart Attwell was a Luton Town fan, with whom the club were in a relegation battle. Forest were later charged with misconduct by the FA for the comments.
Wolves also submitted a proposal to scrap the use of VAR following a season of exasperation and confusion around refereeing decisions.
The petition was eventually unsigned and failed, but its mere existence highlights the frustration that clubs can feel regarding VAR.
Watch the 2024/25 Premier League season on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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