VAR referees continue unusual step to stay in 'zone' amid PL complaints

31 August 2023 , 07:01

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VAR referees continue unusual step to stay in 'zone' amid PL complaints

VAR officials are monitoring screens at Stockley Park wearing their full training referees' kit – to help them stay in the 'zone.'

Officials assigned to adjudicate on clear and obvious errors by on-field refs at Premier League games observe a dress code of matchday and training gear to help them feel as if they are part of the game itself. Referees' trade union PGMOL believe it helps VARs reach the highest possible percentage of correct decisions.

The full-kit mantra may not impress sceptical fans – former Chelsea captain John Terry was ridiculed for wearing his full playing strip at the 2012 Champions League final medal ceremony when he was banned - but it is common practice for officials in other countries.

PGMOL chief refereeing officer Howard Webb is trying to foster an environment where VARs following games from Stockley Park get the big decisions right.

Webb has had a testing start to the season, apologising to manager Gary O'Neil after Wolves were denied a blatant late penalty at Old Trafford, and Nottingham Forest lodged an official complaint with PGMOL about ref Stuart Attwell and VAR Robert Jones' performance in their 3-2 defeat against Manchester United.

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Forest were aggrieved by skipper Joe Worrall's red card and a penalty awarded for a contentious foul on Marcus Rashford.

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Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has complained to PGMOL (Getty Images)

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And former Premier League referee Mike Dean's admission that he did not intervene, as VAR, when Tottenham's Cristian Romero pulled Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella's hair in a stormy 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge to save on-field referee Anthony Taylor from “grief” was a damaging revelation.

Webb's in-tray has been further complicated by the new rules on timewasting and dissent introduced by international law-makers IFAB. To date, the crackdown has been a qualified success.

After the first three rounds of Premier League fixtures, yellow cards for timewasting have almost doubled – from 10 to 19 – this season, while cautions for dissent have rocketed from three to 24.

But the average time of the ball being in play has gone up from 54min 52sec to 58min 54sec, or 7.27 per cent, and average added time is up from 8min 27 sec to 11min 22sec.

Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer hit out at refereeing standards, saying: “I don't think Mike Dean's comments have helped at all, but to be fair to Howard Webb he's certainly been more transparent and he's talking to more people. But I do feel that at times, not only last season but the start of this season, the standard of refereeing is not good enough.”

Mike Walters