English Premier League clubs have voted in favour of retaining the controversial Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system next season.
It was reported that 19 of the 20 top-flight clubs voted to continue using VAR at the Premier League’s annual general meeting in Harrogate on Thursday.
The decision to keep VAR comes after the Premier League side Wolves voted against VAR, they wanted the system to be scrapped starting with the upcoming season.
Wolves said in a statement: “While we are disappointed with the outcome of the vote on the future of VAR at today’s Annual General Meeting, we acknowledge and accept the decision made by our fellow clubs and we are reassured that the Premier League is taking the concerns of clubs and supporters seriously.
“We welcome the commitment to improve VAR, particularly in areas that address delays, consistency, and fan experience.
“While we still believe that Premier League football would be superior for supporters, players, coaches and viewers without VAR, we think that these improvements are crucial for the integrity of the game and for enhancing the overall matchday experience for our supporters,” reads Wolves statement.
“Wolves remain committed to working closely with the Premier League and PGMOL to ensure that VAR continues to evolve and better serve the interests of football. We appreciate the efforts being made to address the issues that we have highlighted in our resolution and look forward to seeing whether the changes implemented this summer can reverse the decline in matchday experience for our fans, and respect for our officials.”
Malcolm Clarke, the chairman of the Football Supporters’ Association, said: “Support for VAR has collapsed since its introduction into English football.
“It’s clear that in its current form it has made the match a less enjoyable experience. So much so that more than two-thirds of supporters now say they are against it.
“There’s a growing feeling from fans that the increase in decision-making accuracy is not a price worth paying for the huge impact VAR has had on the match-going experience.
“Enormous changes to the current system are required to improve things, particularly for supporters in stadiums. We cannot carry on like this.”
The Premier League acknowledged VAR improvements were required.
“While VAR produces more accurate decision making, it was agreed that improvements should be made for the benefit of the game and supporters,” the league said in a statement.
