Premier League managers BLOCK plan for new VAR system in secret meeting with referees chief Howard Webb

PREMIER LEAGUE managers reportedly blocked plans for a new VAR system in a secret meeting with referees chief Howard Webb.

The supremo has laid out his new six-point plan to rebuild VAR’s integrity in the upcoming season.

GettyPremier League managers blocked plans for a new VAR system in a secret meeting[/caption]

And it’s ultimate aim is to provide more clarity throughout the campaign while also reducing delays and improving the experience for fans.

Webb is also looking to train more VAR specialists while also providing education for greater transparency.

Another thing that had previously been suggested was the introduction of a microphone on refs in order to broadcast decisions to football crowds.

However, that has not been included as part of the new changes to VAR.

And the Telegraph claims that Premier League bosses grouped together to shoot down the proposal just last month.

It’s claimed they met with Webb at a private meeting in July to discuss upcoming changes.

But they were not keen on having VAR decisions go live on microphones to those in the stands.

And fans will continue to be left in the dark until the in-house screen declares the final choice by VAR.

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Even so, plenty of new changes will be implemented in the upcoming season thanks to Webb’s six-point list.

The first point is to “improve clarity for the threshold of VAR intervention.”

This will see a high bar set for VAR to intervene, with a cricket-style “Ref’s Call” being given priority unless a major error has occurred.

The next, “reduce delays”, will aim to make decisions quicker — especially with the introduction of semi-automated offside technology.

However, this will NOT be in place for the start of the campaign as the Premier League’s provider, Genius, does not have their tech in place yet.

The third point is to “improve fan experience.”

This will see screens inside stadiums show more replays of incidents.

But ref chiefs continue to resist calls to have decisions broadcast via a microphone.

The fourth point is to “improve VAR training and consistency.”

A specialist group of officials are to be trained solely in the ways of VAR, with the intention of making the operation smoother from the onset.

The fifth point is to “be more transparent.”

Webb will continue with his Mic’d Up show as he explains certain decisions made by VAR during matches.

But a new account on X, the Premier League’s Match Centre, will also be on hand to explain rulings made as matches are played.

The sixth and final point is “educate and communicate.”

This will see a campaign launched to broaden the knowledge of VAR amongst fans, players, managers and the media.

Gaffers have also been urged to go easier on controversial decisions in interviews, as repeated slamming is seen as having a detrimental effect in the public’s view.