Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer, has unveiled plans for Premier League referees to potentially provide explanations to stadium crowds and TV viewers regarding VAR decisions they have altered after consulting the VAR monitor.
These explanations would occur exclusively when referees have reviewed incidents using the pitch-side monitor and would not apply to VAR checks that do not result in overturned on-field decisions.
The proposed change awaits approval from the Premier League, although it is expected to be swiftly implemented for the upcoming season.
Webb highlighted the effectiveness of similar practices observed in FIFA tournaments, such as the Women’s World Cup, where referees make announcements post-VAR review. He expressed openness to adopting such measures in the Premier League, emphasizing the benefits of referees communicating their rationale directly to spectators in the stadium. Webb discussed these potential changes during an episode of Match Officials Mic’d Up.
