West Brom could see VAR introduced at the Hawthorns – report
West Brom could see VAR introduced next season regardless of whether their promotion push to the Premier League is successful or not.
The Championship are considering a ‘low-cost alternative’ to the video assistant referee system used in the topflight and across Europe.
The new system to reduce the number of mistakes made by referees could be introduced as early as the 2023/24 season.
An EFL source told The Times: “If there is a low-cost video monitoring system that stops the real blunders but does not get into a toenail being offside or studying every handball in minute detail then that could be the best of both worlds.”
Tough call
Having seen how shambolic VAR has been in the Premier League since it was introduced is likely to put many teams and fans in the Championship off the idea.
It was a laughing stock when it was first introduced and despite the standard of the use of the system improving after an impressive display from referees during the Euro’s, the English officials seem to have backtracked to their former inconsistent selves.
They are still making major errors in their decisions so what does the system actually help? It seems to have the opposite effect in highlighting the shocking blunders they make with numerous replays.
Let’s be totally honest though. It isn’t VAR that is the problem, it is the way it has been used. The officials are scared to overrule one another and make the tough calls when necessary.
If – and that’s a big if – they can get it right in the EFL, it would be great and would stop some of the shocking decisions made but that is far from a sure thing.
They should leave one of the best leagues in the world alone as it is fine how it is for now.
In other Albion news, West Brom striker Andy Carroll hails Steve Bruce’s ‘intense’ training.