Premier League clubs set to review VAR offside criteria
Martyn Ziegler
Friday March 12 2021, 12.01am, The Times
Premier League
Football
McCarthy’s challenge on Foden on Wednesday caused yet another VAR controversy
CLIVE BRUNSKILL/PA WIRE
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https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/premier-league-clubs-set-to-review-var-offside-criteria-mprt0dh5q
Premier League clubs are set to force through changes to the league’s VAR protocols at their annual meeting in June after discontent about the way the system has been used.
Club insiders say marginal offside decisions are especially unpopular, and expect that to be reinforced by a survey this week of players, coaches, managers and executives at the top-flight teams.
Some club chairmen have been looking enviously at the Netherlands, where the Eredivisie has been using its own VAR offside protocol, which means offsides have to be significantly more obvious to be given. Strictly speaking, Fifa’s VAR protocols do not allow such latitude but the Dutch have been doing it anyway.
A Premier League insider said: “We will take the feedback and act on it, though clearly we want to be in line with the VAR rules.”
Mike Riley, the managing director of Professional Game Match Officials Ltd, the organisation that oversees elite referees and video assistant referees, has asked to be kept updated about developments in the Dutch league.
The survey will also ask for views on the VAR system’s handling of serious foul play decisions and challenges in the penalty area.
Handball decisions will not be part of the survey — changes to the law were brought in by the International FA Board last week, meaning goals will not be disallowed for accidental handballs in the build-up, which should answer many of the criticisms that have been raised this season.
VARs are only supposed to be used for clear and obvious decisions, but as those are often subjective it has led to controversy over a number of incidents.
The most recent one happened on Wednesday evening when Phil Foden was tripped by Alex McCarthy in Manchester City’s win over Southampton. Jon Moss, the match referee, viewed a replay and decided the Southampton goalkeeper got a slight touch on the ball and that there was not enough of a reason to overturn his original decision.
Pep Guardiola, the City manager, said: “They want a clear and obvious error? That was. The referee got it wrong. It’s obvious to everyone there has been contact. If this happens anywhere else on the pitch, is that not a foul?”