Premier League stance on removing VAR as Liverpool given chance to vote

Liverpool will be given the chance to have its say on whether it wants to scrap VAR next season, with the Premier League set to hold a vote at its annual general meeting next month.

According to The Athletic, the vote will be held after Wolves submitted a formal resolution calling for VAR to be abolished this summer. The 20 Premier League clubs will therefore get the chance to vote on the motion when they assemble in Harrogate on June 6.

The 2023/24 season has been littered with a number of controversial VAR incidents, leading to renewed calls for the system to be scrapped. Liverpool has had more than its fair share of contentious decisions, including Luis Díaz’s wrongly disallowed goal at Tottenham.

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Premier League clubs have already unanimously voted for the introduction of semi-automated offside technology to be introduced next season, which would hopefully prevent any more incidents like the Díaz goal from happening again. Wolves’ proposal though could see VAR scrapped completely.

A statement from Wolves said: “After five seasons of VAR in the Premier League, it is time for a constructive and critical debate on its future.

“Our position is that the price we are paying for a small increase in accuracy is at odds with the spirit of our game, and as a result we should remove it from the 2024/25 season onwards.”

The resolution would need 14 of the 20 clubs to back it in order for it to be enforced. The Premier League’s board of directors is said to be against abolishing VAR, claiming it would increase wrong calls and impact the league’s reputation.

A Premier League spokesperson said: “The Premier League can confirm it will facilitate a discussion on VAR with our clubs at the annual general meeting next month.

“Clubs are entitled to put forward proposals at shareholders’ meetings and we acknowledge the concerns and issues around the use of VAR.

“However, the league fully supports the use of VAR and remains committed, alongside PGMOL, to make continued improvements to the system for the benefit of the game and fans.”

Liverpool.com says: As unpopular as VAR is, scrapping it would surely be a step backward. The majority of decisions, if not all of them, that have caused controversy this season have come about due to human error.

People forget just how big a clamor there was for technology to be introduced back in the day. Remember Charlie Austin’s infamous rant? You’d get more of that if VAR was scrapped.

Liverpool has more right than most to feel hard done by with VAR this season. Not only is there the Díaz incident, but the Reds were also denied penalties against Arsenal and Manchester City that could have dramatically shifted the course of the title race. It will be interesting to see which way the club votes next month.