- Wolves have tabled a proposal to get rid of the system five years after its launch
- However, the vote is likely to end in failure due to a raft of extenuating factors
- Marcus Rashford has to leave Man United… and a Premier League club could offer him a fresh start – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
Harry Maguire has added his voice to those calling for VAR to be scrapped, though he remains an advocate its use in determining offsides.
Premier League clubs will vote next month on a proposal by Wolves to scrap VAR in a significant and potentially historic move.
Several former top-flight players have revealed their desire to see the system binned, while Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon said the league should ‘get rid of it or get better’ after he was denied a penalty on Wednesday night.
However, Maguire is the first current star to voice a forthright objection to VAR and he acknowledged his position could be divisive. Still, the Manchester United defender shared his belief that ‘opinion based’ calls should be out of its remit.
‘I think it is going to divide opinion and a lot of people will want to keep it.’ He told The Sun. ‘Equally, the popular thing at the moment is to say get rid of it. It probably does need to be done better.
‘The automated offsides are coming in next season and that will improve it. It will make things quicker.
‘Personally, I would keep VAR but for offsides only. I would scrap it for everything that is opinion based. Offsides are factual and not subjective.
‘It is so difficult to lose a game on an offside goal when a player is two or three yards offside. Everyone makes mistakes, linesmen make mistakes, so that is why I would keep VAR for that.
‘But I would not have it for red cards, or penalties because even now, people disagree if a decision is right or wrong.’
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The move to abandon VAR is likely to end in failure when clubs vote at the end of season Annual General Meeting, nevertheless, it is clear teams want steadfast commitments from the Premier League with a view to enhancing the system and its processes.
The fact a large number of Premier League clubs are playing in European competition, that will use VAR, next season the decision-making inconsistencies players will face from week-to-week are among the apprehensions towards scrapping the system altogether.
There is also skepticism from clubs towards the lower reaches, particularly teams with lower budgets, of the league because they have already invested heavily into implementing the system.
Among the criticisms VAR has faced is the lack of clarity in provides for in-stadium spectators.
While viewers on TV are party to the decision-making process, those at grounds are left largely in the dark as to how VAR officials come to decisions.
And the Premier League are ready to give in-stadium VAR communication the green light, which it is hoped will go some way to improving the experience for those watching from the stands.
The introduction of semi-automatic offsides into the Premier League at some point next season is expected to reduce the amount of time it takes to decide on the tightest of calls.
But among the potential improvements clubs are privately considering is the possibility of appointing elite foreign referees to matches.