PREM teams vented their anger at ref’s boss Mike Riley in crisis talks over VAR.
Riley was given a 90-minute grilling in London on Thursday as club bosses demanded improvements in the video refereeing system.
Mike Riley is standing firm in the face of Prem clubs’ pressureCredit: PA:Press Association
“Grave concerns” at the time taken to make VAR rulings and the poor communication with fans were two hot topics.
But while clubs agreed to use their giant stadium screens to give more basic information to the crowd at games over why reviews are taking place, there will be NO major changes.
And that includes no demand for Riley to change his policy on referees using pitchside monitors to confirm or change their decisions.
In a series of what were described as “fractious” and “feisty” exchanges during a 4½-hour meeting in The Churchill Hotel, Marylebone, Riley attempted to head off the revolt by pointing to the problems with VAR in other countries.
But his comments were dismissed with the stark response: “We don’t care.”
Club bosses stressed that fans have been short-changed by VAR this season.
Riley was forced to concede the necessity for swifter and better decisions as the clubs told him: “It has not been good enough.”
Aston Villa’s chief executive Christian Purslow — who sent a letter to Prem chiefs calling for an improvement in VAR use — said: “Lots of clubs had grave concerns. There was complete recognition from everyone in the room that fans and football lovers are unhappy with the way VAR has started.
“We were given concrete assurances by Mike Riley and the Premier League executive that they expect to make significant improvements in three areas — speed, consistency and the quality of communication of what is going on.
“They will be judged on those goals.”
Despite that, there will be no major changes — with clubs agreeing that doing so part-way through the season would damage the “integrity” of the Prem.
Fans and players alike have found plenty of VAR decisions controversialCredit: Reuters
That means pitchside monitors will continue to be used “sparingly” and only when an incident has taken place behind the ref’s back.
That contrasts with Uefa and Fifa competitions when refs use them as standard practice on subjective calls.
Riley — general manager of the Premier League and Professional Game Match Officials Ltd — played an eight-minute video showing issues with VAR in Spain.
But it was dismissed as irrelevant by a number of club representatives.
Ultimately, it was the fear of extra-long VAR delays in reaching decisions that saw clubs agree the policy should NOT change.
By next month, big screens will display “potential handball” and “possible offside” so fans know why VAR is studying footage.
West Ham co-chairman David Gold insisted: “We are making good progress.
“This is brand new, we just have to be a bit more patient.
“We will get it right. VAR is alive and kicking.”
Premier League refs stunned after chief Mike Riley says he’s ‘well pleased with how VAR is operating’
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
