The Premier League officials are in for a vital test as the top English league is set to do a trial of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, to see whether it should be used permanently.
The trials have been scheduled to begin with the 3 pm kick-offs on September 15th.
The decision to postpone the controversial technology’s implementation was passed by a two-thirds majority at a meeting of the 20 Premier League clubs.
The technology was also trialled during the Carabao Cup and FA Cup last season and will be used again this campaign.
The VAR was also used successfully during the World Cup in Russia this summer.
The initial trial of the system will take place over five Saturday games at 3 pm from September 15.
There will, however, be no contact between the on-field referee and the video assistant team as the trial is meant to show whether the base can handle decisions from many fixtures at one time while matching pitch demands.
Since the news, football fans across the world have taken to social media to address the change:
West Ham Fan Zone@WHUFCFZVAR in the Premier League?
Good call, in my opinion.
Coral
✔@CoralFans when they see their team should have been given a blatant pen, and the blokes in the van saw it all but can do absolutely nothing about it
Kelechi Nkoro
✔@K1SaysI hear the Premier League is set to trial VAR at 15 matches this season.
I am sure they will make a mess of it, in one or two of those matches…..
Jasper@JasperTDOFSurely it doesn’t make sense if they’re going to trial VAR in 15 Premier League matches. If they’re going to do it they’ve got to do it in all games otherwise it’s undoubtedly unfair.
The rules for it are also pathetic.
How can the VAR hub not have any contact with the referee?
Shubham Shah@Shu_07_bhamI am Optimistic that VAR will Work good.
Let’s see how it goes..#VAR
Simon Winter@SimonJWinterVAR to be trialled at 15 Premier League matches after the international break. Does this not seem incredibly unfair? Surely it’s got to be all or nothing? Why should some teams benefit and not others? http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11490710/premier-league-to-trial-var-this-season … #VAR
Premier League to trial VAR this season
The Premier League will trial VAR at 15 matches this season – starting after the international break, Sky Sports News understands.
skysports.com
BIGwelshfish@BIGwelshfishAbsolutely the right call. #VAR is the future. All you cavemen and neigh sayers are wrong.
Sky Sports Premier League
✔@SkySportsPL
September 15th will witness the first use of VAR in the Premier League in a multiple match scenario and the fixtures include teams like Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, the matches of which will be watched by video officials at their Stockley Park base.
