Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Premier League clubs to vote for or against VAR retention during June 6 annual general meeting

The resolution followed controversial decisions made by referees this season despite the use of VAR for decision making.

• May 16, 2024
VAR SHOWING 'NO GOAL'
VAR showing ‘NO GOAL’ [Photo: FOX Sports]

Premier League clubs will vote whether to scrap video assistant referees starting from the 2024/25 season when the 20 member clubs meet at a meeting early next month.

Wolves on Wednesday officially submitted a resolution that would trigger Premier League clubs to vote to ditch the VAR technology or not when they meet at the annual general meeting in Harrogate on 6 June.

The club cited the technology which was introduced in 2019 “in good faith and with the best interests of football and the Premier League at its heart” has since “damaged the relationship between fans and football.”

It follows several crucial controversial decisions made by referees in this season despite the use of VAR for decision making with Wolves stating that “the price we are paying for a small increase in accuracy is at odds with the spirit of our game.”

Reacting to Wolves’ resolution, the Premier League said in a statement on Wednesday that it “acknowledged the concerns” about VAR but “fully supports” the technology and will continue to work with referees’ body PGMOL to make improvements.

For Wolves’ resolution to come into effect, at least 14 out of the 20 member clubs which is two-third majority must vote in favour of the proposal when they meet next month.

Other negative effects of the technology cited by Wolves include 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, obvious mistakes, overanalysing subjective decisions, compromising the game’s fluidity and integrity among other issues.

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