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Soccer-Premier League groups vote to keep VAR

Premier League groups enacted favour of keeping Video Assistant Referees (VAR) on Thursday, regardless of the considerable quantity of criticism this past season about the technologyaided officiating system.

The BBC reported that 19 of the 20 teams voted in favour of keeping VAR, which was very first introduced in the 2019-20 season, with Wolverhampton Wanderers allegedly casting the only vote versus.

While VAR produces more precise choice making, it was concurred that improvements should be made for the advantage of the video game and supporters, the league said in a statement.

Six key areas were determined throughout discussions with clubs:

- Preserving a high limit for VAR;

- Decreasing hold-ups to the game, primarily through the intro of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT);

- Improving fan experience through a reduction in hold-ups and in-stadium statements from referees to describe post-VAR choice changes;

- More robust VAR training to enhance consistency, with a focus on speed while protecting precision;

- More transparency and interaction around VAR;

- A fan and stakeholder VAR interaction campaign to much better clarify the technology's role in the game.

The league validated in April that SAOT will be presented in the autumn of 2024 to offer quicker and consistent positioning of the virtual offside line, based on optical gamer tracking.

Wolves said they were dissatisfied in the vote's result in a declaration to the BBC.

(However) we acknowledge and accept the decision made by our fellow clubs and we are assured that the Premier League is taking the issues of clubs and advocates seriously, Wolves said.

We welcome the dedication to enhance VAR ... While we still believe the Premier League football would transcend for advocates, gamers, coaches and viewers without VAR, we believe that these improvements are crucial for the stability of the video game and for boosting the overall matchday experience for our fans.

The league and the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd.

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(source: Reuters)