Chief refereeing officer Howard Webb has announced a potential change in policy for Premier League officials. They may start explaining their decisions after visiting the VAR monitor, to the stadium crowds and TV audiences. However, these explanations will only be provided for decisions that have been reviewed at the monitor.
This means that if the VAR checks do not lead to the on-field decision being overturned, the reasoning behind the decision will not be communicated. IFAB conducted a successful 12-month trial of this change in international tournaments, including the Women’s World Cup. In some countries like Australia, referees were already required to communicate with fans about what was happening and why certain decisions were reached, which was well received by football fans.
However, the change still does not meet the expectations of some fans, as IFAB continues to oppose broadcasting real-time conversations between the VAR and the on-field referee. Additionally, Howard Webb expressed the intention to improve the in-stadium experience. The proposed change in explaining VAR decisions has been met with mixed responses.
Some believe it could help the audience better understand the decision-making process, while others remain skeptical.
