Premier League managers have held talks with PGMOL chief Howard Webb to request changes to VAR operations. Richard Bevan, CEO of the League Managers’ Association, said the association wanted to host top-flight matches differently.
The LMA proposes that referees establish a working relationship in partnership with a designated video assistant referee. The organization believes this approach allows for more consistent decision-making.
Mr Bevan suggested Mr Webb and PGMOL were working towards a better relationship between on-field officials and video assistant referees. However, recruitment issues seem to be an issue.
The LMA chief executive accepts that VAR is a permanent fixture and insists that steps must be taken to address the mistakes currently being made. In his opinion, having a dedicated VAR representative would go a long way in solving this problem.
Speaking exclusively on the Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Bevan explained his stance to former Sunderland and Bolton manager Sam Allardyce.
He said: “We’ve had a number of meetings with Premier League managers and Howard Webb about VAR, some good, some not so good. “Premier League managers want the person who referees Howard Webb on the pitch every week to be the VAR referee, so it won’t be a tense relationship.
“It’s about them understanding each other and getting a better understanding of how they operate, and Howard Webb and PGMOL are working towards that. Recruitment is a big issue for them, training and development is also important. I think we’ll get there eventually, but with VAR here to stay, it’s important to reduce mistakes.”
“VAR referees should be on hand. Instead of having one week in a row and one week off, practice game after game and it will become perfect.”
Technology could play an even bigger role in Premier League matches. Proposals that would allow video technology to be used to overturn unfair second yellow cards will be submitted to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the independent guardian of football association rules.
The organization’s annual business meeting will be held in January, where the issue will be discussed and whether video match officials should be allowed to intervene under VAR protocols. Currently, only straight red cards or warnings for mistaken identity will be revoked.
