In a recent announcement, Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer, mentioned that Premier League referees are considering the possibility of explaining to both stadium attendees and television viewers the reasons behind their decision changes after using the VAR monitor.
This communication would only occur if a referee decides to review incidents using the monitor located on the sidelines.
It is clarified that this explanation initiative would exclude incidents where VAR checks do not result in overturning on-field decisions.
Approval from the Premier League is pending, although it’s anticipated to be easily granted for implementation in the upcoming season.
Referencing practices in FIFA tournaments like the Women’s World Cup, Webb highlighted the potential for referees to make announcements post screen review.
Webb emphasized the potential benefits, stating, “We are contemplating the possibility of adopting a similar approach in the Premier League, maintaining an open mindset towards this change.”
He further expressed, “Providing a rationale directly to the stadium audience would prove highly valuable for the referee.” These remarks were made during a discussion on Match Officials Mic’d Up.