EPL admits 13 VAR errors, adopts improved system
The English Premier League has identified 13 video assistant referee (VAR) mistakes in the Premier League so far this season – down from 20 at the same point last term – say league bosses.
Four incorrect VAR interventions and nine missed interventions from the first 23 rounds of games have been found by the competition’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel.
There have been 70 VAR interventions in 239 league games this season – around one every three matches.
The league says the accuracy of ‘Key Match Incidents’ is at 96.4% – up from 95.7% at the corresponding point last term.
“Nobody here underestimates the significance and the impact of one single error,” said chief football officer Tony Scholes said.
“We know that one single error can cost clubs. Points and results can cost managers positions, potentially players their place.”
In Erik ten Hag’s case, that was literally what happened – one of the four mistakes was the penalty given against his Manchester United side in what proved to be his final match in charge.
Referees have also been subject to abuse, with police recently investigating “threats and abuse” directed at Michael Oliver following Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wolves in January.
Oliver controversially sent off Gunners defender Myles Lewis-Skelly – a decision that was later reversed on appeal.
Former referee David Coote was sacked by the referees’ body in December after a “thorough investigation” into his conduct.
Asked about trust in officials, Scholes said: “We all have a responsibility to have some balance in the comments that are made.
“We cannot have the officials, such a key part of a successful and entertaining league, facing the kind of abuse that occurs on occasion.
“These guys are good. I know that is not always the perception, but the rest of the world recognise how good they are.”
The Premier League declined to list the nine missed interventions – and whether that includes the Lewis-Skelly red card. It did outline the four errors to media.
Meanwhile, the Premier League has announced that “significant progress” has been made with testing of semi-automated VAR offside technology, SAOT, in recent weeks.
However, the system was not ready at the beginning of the season.
But it was supposed to be brought in “after one of the Autumn international breaks.”
However, no information has since been given on the progress of testing and it seemed as though SAOT would not arrive this campaign.
“We are still testing it but we are making significant progress,” Tony Scholes, the Premier League’s chief football officer, said on Tuesday.
“We’re in a different place to when I spoke to managers just over Christmas, we’ve made a lot of progress in this area.
“Now I’m hopeful that at some point this season we will be able to introduce semi-automated technology but I repeat the points I’ve made a number of times. We are not going to introduce it if we’ve got any doubts at all with regards to its operation.
