الدوري الإنجليزي يسعى لتطبيق تقنية VAR شبه الآلية لتحديد التسلل هذا الموسم
for these officials to come through to be able to officiate in the Premier League.”
Scholes also revealed that the Premier League intends to introduce referees announcing VAR decisions to the crowd, which has been tested in the Carabao Cup semifinals, at the start of next season. The Bundesliga became the first major European league to trial it, starting with select fixtures last weekend.
He added that he wants fans inside the stadium to have “at least an equal experience as those at home” when it comes to VAR, and emphasized that the league’s position is “to get to a place where we have full visibility and full audio of the conversation between the referee and VAR.”
The Premier League will continue its efforts with lobbying for changes with IFAB (International Football Association Board), which controls VAR protocol.
All 13 VAR Errors in the Premier League This Season
Incorrect Interventions (4)
- AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle United, Aug. 25
Dango Ouattara goal disallowed for handball (’90+2)
- West Ham United 2-1 Manchester United, Oct. 27
Penalty awarded for a foul by Matthijs de Ligt on Danny Ings (’90+2)
- Everton 0-0 Brentford, Nov. 23
Christian Nørgaard sent off for serious foul play (’39)
- Nottingham Forest 3-2 Southampton, Jan. 19
No Chris Wood offside offence on goal (’64)
Missed Interventions (9)
- Man United 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur, Sept. 29
Serious foul play, red card not given to Bruno Fernandes (’41)
- Aston Villa 2-2 Crystal Palace, Nov. 23
DOGSO, red card not given to Ian Maatsen (’65)
- Everton 4-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers, Dec. 4
Abdoulaye Doucouré offside offence on goal (’72)
- Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa, Dec.14
Penalty not awarded; foul by Elliot Anderson (’34)
- West Ham vs Brighton & Hove Albion, Dec .21
Serious foul play; red card not given to Pervis Estupiñán (’84)
6 .Brighton vs Brentford, Dec .27
Violent conduct; red card not given João Pedro(’75)
7 .West Ham vs Liverpool ,Dec .29
Penalty not awarded ;foul by Alexis Mac Allister(’35)
8 .Ipswich Town vs Brighton ,Jan .19
Penalty not awarded ;foul by Wes Burns(’11)
9 .Wolves vs Arsenal ,Jan .25
Serious foul play ;red card issued Myles Lewis-Skelly(’43)
Panel stated penalty may have been missed due prior fouls but should have been reviewed.*
The statistics indicate a notable improvement in officiating standards this season compared with previous campaigns, reflecting ongoing efforts within PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited).The discussion around the implementation and efficiency of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) in football continues to evolve, with recent statements highlighting both improvements and ongoing challenges. Paul Scholes emphasized that while there have been notable errors this season, overall refereeing standards are improving. The statistics from the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel indicate a reduction in total errors from 20 last season to 13 this season.
Scholes also mentioned the Elite Referee Development Plan, which aims to accelerate the progression of promising referees into higher levels of officiating. This initiative has already seen success stories, such as Sam Barrott and Lewis Smith moving up from lower leagues to officiate in the Premier League.
Looking ahead, there are plans for referees to announce VAR decisions publicly at stadiums starting next season—a practice already tested during Carabao Cup semifinals. This move aims to enhance transparency for fans attending matches, ensuring they have an experience comparable to viewers at home.
Despite these advancements, there remain concerns about specific VAR interventions this season. A total of 13 errors were identified: four incorrect interventions and nine missed opportunities where fouls or serious misconduct went unpunished. These include disallowed goals due to handball calls and instances where red cards should have been issued but were not reviewed adequately.
The Premier League is committed to lobbying for changes with IFAB (International Football Association Board), which oversees VAR protocols, aiming for greater clarity and consistency in its application across matches.
