PGMOL chief Howard Webb has stated that there have been only two errors made by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the current English Premier League season. VAR has faced significant scrutiny since its introduction in 2019, but Webb asserts that the technology is showing improvement and that mistakes are being minimized after a rocky start.
During an appearance on the Stick to Football Podcast, Webb addressed the management of expectations regarding VAR, noting, “I don’t think we managed expectations well in terms of VAR. We knew it was always going to be a situation where it was going to do well on those clear situations, the ones where you think, ‘That’s clearly wrong on first view.’”
He also highlighted the role of an independent panel comprising ex-players that reviews decisions weekly. According to this panel, only two VAR errors have occurred this season, a significant reduction from the ten errors reported at the same point last year. Webb’s comments suggest a positive trend in the application of VAR in the Premier League, aiming to enhance the accuracy and reliability of officiating.
