Premier League managers demand MAJOR changes to VAR and are lobbying for video assistants to be permanently assigned to refereeing teams

• The League Managers Association are demanding major changes to VAR 
• It comes after the video review system has been called into question this week 
• CHRIS SUTTON: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is a CLOWN – It’s All Kicking Off

Premier League managers are demanding major changes to the way VAR is operated following Mikel Arteta’s description of the system as “embarrassing” and a “disgrace” after Arsenal’s defeat by Newcastle last weekend. 

Mail Sport has learned that the League Managers’ Association (LMA) are lobbying for video assistants to be permanently assigned to expanded five-person refereeing squads to improve communication and team work on match days, as well as calling for an urgent review of what constitutes a “clear and obvious” error.

The LMA are in regular contact with referees’ body PGMOL on behalf of the top-flight managers, with talks intensifying following Arteta’s outburst at St James’ Park.

The Arsenal boss doubled down on his criticism of VAR yesterday by calling on other managers to share their frustrations over a system he described as a ‘stink in the drawer’.

PGMOL chief Howard Webb has impressed many of the managers with his willingness to consider new ideas since his appointment 12 months ago however, and it is hoped some of the changes they are demanding could be introduced before the end of the season. 

Premier League managers are demanding big changes to the way VAR is operated 

It comes after Mikel Arteta described the system as ’embarrassing’ following his side’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle  

The League Managers’ Association are lobbying for video assistants to be permanently assigned to refereeing teams in a bid to improve communication

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Under the LMA proposal each refereeing team would work with the same video assistant at the Premier League’s tech hub at Stockley Park for each of their fixtures, so Michael Oliver and his assistants would use Darren England as VAR every weekend for example.

LMA chief executive Richard Bevan told Mail Sport: ‘The managers strongly feel that a VAR specialist should be considered a member of the close team of officials (Referee, 4th Official, Assistant Referees and VAR specialist) that become one unit for every game they are officiating together. 

‘The use of officiating teams, with referees and assistant referees regularly working together, has already proven beneficial and produced positive results.

‘PGMOL have confirmed to us that they are actively looking at how best to incorporate VARs into match-day refereeing teams, to ensure the dynamic between on-field referee and VAR is conducive to producing positive outcomes.

‘The managers are also calling for a review (and simplification) of the interpretation of the term ‘clear and obvious’ in VAR decision-making, as this is a cause of much confusion at present.’

The PGMOL confirmed it is actively tryingto incorporate VARs into refereeing teams, with its chief, Howard Webb (pictured), impressing with his willingness to consider new ideas

VAR was called into action during Arsenal’s defeat by Newcastle after the ball appeared to go out of play in the build up to Anthony Gordon’s goal

The review system was used several times on Monday night, during Chelsea’s fiery encounter against Tottenham 

PGMOL have already made some changes to VAR operations this season after the Tottenham v Liverpool offside debacle last month, which led to the in-game communication protocols being altered, while Webb has publicly committed to recruiting more VAR specialists. 

A shortage of trained video assistants is likely to prove the main obstacle to integrating them into match-day refereeing teams in the short term, as IFAB regulations state that only current or former Select Group referees can work as a VAR.

This lack of numbers is highlighted by the match official appointments for this weekend’s Premier League games, with Michael Oliver, Paul Tierney, Michael Salisbury, John Brooks and Chris Kavanagh all assigned to act as referees and VARs in different games on Saturday and Sunday. 

This shortage was exacerbated when former referees Mike Dean and Lee Mason both left their roles as VAR specialists last season following high-profile errors.

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