The Premier League has confirmed that Video assistant referees will be used in the next season of the UK football tournament.
The news follows a shareholders meeting that provided clubs with an update on the non-live VAR trials undertaken by the League and professional game match officials this season.
According to a statement on the Premier League’s website, key learnings from VAR’s use in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and other leagues across the world, were discussed in detail at the meeting.
While Premier League clubs voted against use of VARs in the 2018-19 season it has been carrying out “non-live” trials this season, with a continued emphasis on Saturday afternoons where several matches are being played concurrently.
The League said that it also remained focused on developing a clear protocol for communicating VAR decisions to fans – perhaps influenced by its use during its use on the Bundesliga this April.
During a match between Mainz and Freiburg in April the VAR made a correct call on the allowance of a spot kick, but it caused uproar among fans in the terraces and delayed the second half of the game.
VAR was also used at the 2018 World Cup and is currently being trialled by MLS, Italy’s Serie A and FIFA youth tournaments.
The League will now formally make a request to the International Football Association Board and FIFA to use VAR next season.
