Ahead of the 2024/25 season, Tony Scholes, the Premier League’s Chief Football Officer, and Howard Webb, the PGMOL's chief refereeing officer, discussed the changes to VAR that will be in place for the campaign.
This season the Premier League is introducing a term, “Referee's Call”, when communicating about VAR. Can you explain?
Tony Scholes: One of the difficulties around VAR for the last couple of years is the lack of clarity as to when the VAR should or should not intervene.
“Referee’s Call” really is just an introduction of a terminology to make it clear that the initial decision by the on-pitch official is critical. It’s similar to what exists in other sports like cricket and “Umpire’s Call”. The referee’s call should stand unless the VAR, based on readily available evidence, can see without doubt the on-pitch official has made a clear mistake. In the absence of that clear evidence, the referee’s call will stand.
Howard Webb: “Referee’s Call” is important because it helps manage people's expectations. We have situations that split opinion – and VAR can’t always provide definitive answers all the time, because the real world is not always correct or incorrect. So “Referee’s Call” clarifies the process to fans, managers and players – even if they disagree with the decision.
Will this approach help to reduce delays for VAR decisions?
Webb: I hope that having this clearly established threshold in place will mean the VARs can recognize quickly if something is or isn't clearly and obviously wrong.
Scholes: What I’d add is that we are doing what the game is telling us they want to see in this league. We did an extensive survey in the spring, where managers, football directors and captains told us they wanted to have a high bar for the VAR intervention. In pre-season we have been visiting clubs and they have been supportive of the new terminology. It makes sense to them.
Tell us more about semi-automated offsides and what we can expect?
Scholes: We hope to introduce it after one of the autumn international breaks, but it’s important to point out that we will only do it when PGMOL are 100 per cent confident, because ultimately, they're in charge of decision-making. They will have to be completely happy that the process works and improves things.
Webb: The biggest benefit of semi-automated offsides is around the efficiency of the process. We already believe our interventions around offside are accurate. The manual use of technology can take time, particularly in the more complicated situations. We're looking forward to making it quicker but retaining the accuracy.
It's “semi-automated” because there still needs to be some validation on the outputs from the technology that the VAR will go through, such as the kick point being identified.
The other big advantage is it will create graphics we can use in-stadium for fans and with broadcasters. This ability to see the offside, we believe, will give a better experience for people watching on TV and within the stadium.
Scholes: The introduction of semi-automated offside technology should not only reduce delays but also instil greater confidence in the whole process.
You have talked about trying to improve the fan experience around VAR in stadiums. What are you looking to do?
Scholes: Back in June, we said we would discuss with clubs about improving the fan experience in stadiums so that it can become as good as for those fans watching on TV.
One way we will do this in 2024/25 is through offering more big-screen replays where there has been a delay to the match, not only for decisions overturned after a VAR intervention but also for those decisions confirmed by the VAR.
PGMOL intend to pilot in-stadium announcements by referees in a competition at some point this season, but this is unlikely to be in the Premier League.
Are you changing your approach to communication of VAR decisions elsewhere?
Scholes: The Premier League Match Centre is going to be much more proactive this season in setting out on social media the factual basis of a decision that's been made, or the VAR intervention that's been done.
The intention is that fans around the world and in stadium can see the factual basis of the decision they have seen on the pitch.
What changes are being made to added time?
Scholes: Last season, we added on every second from when the ball hit the back of the net until the restart. In 2024/25, we are not going to add on the first 30 seconds on that because 30 seconds is the natural time it would take the two teams to get back in position for the restarts after a goal.
Webb: It’s a benefit, especially when you think of the number of goals that were scored last year [a record 1,246]. Suddenly, if you've got eight goals in a match, you've automatically got four minutes added on the board.
Listening to the game, there's a sense that was potentially excessive. So, it's been well received by everybody we've consulted with.
At the Euros UEFA had a rule on only captains approaching referees - will that be implemented in the Premier League?
Webb: We watch all developments closely such as what happened at the Euros.
As a game, we collectively worked hard last year on participant behaviour, speaking extensively with clubs, their players, and management teams and the importance of not surrounding officials as the power of example is strong for the next generations. We saw more yellow cards last season, but we knew we would because referees were empowered by the game and told not to turn a blind eye to certain behaviours.
But international football is significantly different to the Premier League; they have 52 games, we have 380. We have a 10-month season. If we commit to something in in August, we need to be confident it's deliverable in May. If we set a benchmark early in the season that we find it difficult to sustain, and we have to change, then we lose credibility.
Scholes: Last season we made a lot of significant changes which brought a rise in the number of yellow cards. The players’ response was extremely good, and the behaviour levels last season, and therefore the image of the game, was a significant improvement on previous seasons.
It's passionate game. Yes, we want passion in there - but the players are role models as well.
If you had one wish to take place in the Premier League regarding the football, refereeing, VAR, what would you like?
Webb: I hope that people understand and accept what VAR can do and can’t do - and therefore, if they don't agree with the final decision, I don't want them to automatically see that as a failing of VAR.
We need to do our part in ensuring that when clear errors are identified they are acted upon, and VAR does what it’s setting out to do - but people have tolerance and understanding of those areas where it can't create perfection because perfection doesn't exist.
Scholes: Last season’s Premier League was compelling, entertaining, competitive. So my wish would be that the football is at least as good as it was last year and that all of the talk is about the football. We need to ensure that VAR is operating as effectively as it can be so that everybody is talking about the football, not about refereeing or VAR decisions.