Ipswich Town opinion on VAR decision

Premier League clubs voted to preserve Video Assistant Referee [VAR] technology at today’s Annual General Meeting.

Wolves’ proposal to eliminate VAR was met with opposition from 19 of the 20 clubs, including Ipswich Town.

The Blues were confirmed as a Premier League club this afternoon, joining Leicester City and Southampton, who were promoted from the Championship alongside them last season.

Today’s vote means that a VAR monitor will need to be placed at Portman Road, but a statement from the Premier League revealed that they spoke with the clubs about six critical areas to improve the system during today’s AGM:

1) Maintaining a high threshold for VAR intervention in order to improve uniformity and reduce interruptions to the game’s flow.
2) Reducing game delays, primarily by implementing semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) and maintaining a high threshold for VAR intervention.

3) Improving the fan experience by reducing delays, providing in-stadium announcements from referees following a post-VAR decision change, and, where practicable, increasing the availability of big screen replays to include all VAR interventions.
4) Collaborating with PGMOL to create more thorough VAR training to promote consistency, with a focus on speed of procedure while maintaining accuracy.

5) Increasing transparency and communication about VAR, including expanded communications from the Premier League Match Centre and broadcast programs like “Match Officials Mic’d Up”.
6) Implementing a fan and stakeholder VAR communication effort to further understand VAR’s role in the game for participants and supporters.

It has also been confirmed that Semi-Automated Offside Technology will be available in the fall of 2024.

The statement said, “The technology will provide faster and consistent placement of the virtual offside line, based on optical player tracking, and will produce high-quality broadcast graphics to ensure an enhanced in-stadium and broadcast experience for supporters.”

“The Premier League and PGMOL will continue to lobby IFAB to allow greater flexibility in the Laws of the Game to allow live video and audio broadcast during VAR reviews.”

Furthermore, Daily Telegraph reporter John Percy uncovered that Aston Villa’s attempt to boost Profit and Sustainability Rules [PSR] losses from £105 million to £135 million over three years fell short. Two clubs voted in favor, fifteen against, and three abstained.