Prem clubs demand change in VAR protocol as pitchside monitors have NEVER been used this season
PREMIER LEAGUE teams will demand pitchside monitors are used after yet another weekend of VAR chaos.
Mayhem during Everton’s 1-1 draw with Spurs on Sunday brought a cascade of criticism on the decisions being made by officials at their technology hub.
Now top-flight chiefs will crank up the pressure on refs’ boss Mike Riley to do a U-turn.
The monitors have NEVER been used in any of the 110 Prem games so far this season.
Riley has remained adamant they not necessary.
But that stance is under threat ahead of next week’s meeting of the 20 clubs.
One chief said: “There is no point in having the monitors if the refs aren’t going to use them.
“Uefa say the referee should have the final decision, not the VAR official — and that surely makes more sense.
"It will sell the decisions better to players and fans if they can see the referee believes it is the right call.”
CALLS COULD GO EITHER WAY
Refs’ bosses insist the issue was not raised as a big concern in meetings Riley had last week with both club directors of football and some managers.
But there was an acceptance that the weekend decisions were “judgement calls” that could have gone the other way.
Everton and Tottenham both had strong penalty shouts dismissed on the say-so of VAR ref Anthony Taylor.
Ref Martin Atkinson got out a yellow card to book Son Heung-min for his challenge on Andre Gomes before switching to a red.
A day earlier, Watford were awarded a soft VAR penalty in their defeat to Chelsea, when Taylor ruled no foul on the pitch.
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Blues boss Frank Lampard hinted he wanted officials to use the pitchside monitors for “an extra look”.
Prem bosses are also ready to listen to demands from clubs for more communication inside grounds when VAR is in use.
That could see information on giant screens such as explanations on what is being checked.
