O Wolverhampton pediu, e a PL considerará: os clubes se reunirão para continuar ou abandonar o VAR na próxima temporada (a Suécia já fez isso, falamos em: https://wp.me/p4RTuC-WDe).

Os motivos citados são inúmeros (veja abaixo), e fica a questão: se lá, que nitidamente funciona melhor do que aqui, estão discutindo a qualidade dos homens de preto… o que diremos dos nossos VARs?

Em: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5495032/2024/05/15/premier-league-var-vote/

Do New York Times, do link acima:

Premier League clubs are set to hold a vote at their annual general meeting next month on a proposal to abolish the video assistant referee (VAR) system from the start of next season.

VAR has been used in the English top-flight since 2019, helping improve decision making but also generating persistent controversy.

The 2023-24 campaign has featured many contentious incidents, which has heightened the criticism of VAR and led some teams and fans to question the competition’s integrity.

A resolution has now been formally submitted to the Premier League by Wolverhampton Wanderers calling for VAR to be scrapped this summer — and that will trigger a vote when representatives of the 20 clubs assemble for their yearly gathering, in Harrogate on June 6.

A Wolves statement said the move came “after careful consideration and with the utmost respect for the Premier League, (referees body) PGMOL and our fellow competitors.

“There is no blame to be placed — we are all just looking for the best possible outcome for football — and all stakeholders have been working hard to try and make the introduction of additional technology a success.

“However, after five seasons of VAR in the Premier League, it is time for a constructive and critical debate on its future.

“Our position is that the price we are paying for a small increase in accuracy is at odds with the spirit of our game, and as a result we should remove it from the 2024/25 season onwards.”

A Premier League spokesperson said: “The Premier League can confirm it will facilitate a discussion on VAR with our clubs at the annual general meeting next month.

“Clubs are entitled to put forward proposals at shareholders’ meetings and we acknowledge the concerns and issues around the use of VAR.

“However, the league fully supports the use of VAR and remains committed, alongside PGMOL, to make continued improvements to the system for the benefit of the game and fans.”

Wolves accepted the decision to introduce VAR was “made in good faith and with the best interests of football and the Premier League at its heart” but argued it has caused “numerous unintended negative consequences that are damaging the relationship between fans and football, and undermining the value of the Premier League brand”.

They listed a host of repercussions, such as:

• Impact on goal celebrations and the spontaneous passion that makes football special
• Frustration and confusion inside stadiums due to lengthy VAR checks and poor communication
• A more hostile atmosphere with protests, booing of the Premier League anthem and chants against VAR
• Overreach of VAR’s original purpose to correct clear and obvious mistakes, now overanalysing subjective decisions and compromising the game’s fluidity and integrity
• Diminished accountability of on-field officials, due to the safety net of VAR, leading to an erosion of authority on the pitch
• Continued errors despite VAR, with supporters unable to accept human error after multiple views and replays, damaging confidence in officiating standards
• Disruption of the Premier League’s fast pace with lengthy VAR checks and more added time, causing matches to run excessively long
• Constant discourse about VAR decisions often overshadowing the match itself, and tarnishing the reputation of the league
• Erosion of trust and reputation, with VAR fuelling completely nonsensical allegations of corruption

VAR has again been at the centre of multiple high-profile flashpoints in the past nine months.