‘First PL VAR changes’ – PL make major VAR audio call after controversial Arsenal vs Man Utd clash

In a groundbreaking move, the Premier League is set to provide Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, and football enthusiasts worldwide with a unique opportunity to eavesdrop on the inner workings of match officials and VAR during Premier League fixtures. This development, a first for the current season, comes in the wake of a series of controversial decisions that sparked debates over the weekend.

One particular decision that has ignited discussions was the ‘goal’ initially credited to Alejandro Garnacho for Manchester United against Arsenal, only to be subsequently ruled out for offside. Following the match, in which Arsenal clinched victory with two late stoppage-time goals, Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils’ manager, unleashed a scathing critique of VAR, enumerating the perceived errors in judgment.

Now, everyone, including Ten Hag, will have the chance to gain insight into the rationale behind the VAR and on-field referees’ decision to annul Garnacho’s goal, along with other contentious calls from the weekend. According to reports from ESPN, an episode titled ‘Match Officials: Mic’d Up’ is scheduled to air on Wednesday, September 6, at 8 PM on Sky Sports.

Notably, this show will feature Michael Owen as a guest and will also be broadcast on TNT Sports at 8:30 PM. The decision to embark on this initiative follows a successful trial conducted in May, during which Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer, provided explanations for various calls made between the match official and the team at Stockley Park.

While football supporters eagerly anticipate insights into how ‘correct’ decisions were reached, they are equally curious to hear the VAR audio when ‘incorrect’ decisions occur. For example, earlier in the season, Webb acknowledged significant errors by referees, notably the failure to award Wolves a penalty during injury time in a match at Old Trafford on the opening weekend.

Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether audio from conversations that led to ‘incorrect’ decisions will be included in the review show. Additionally, the specific incidents to be featured in the program on Wednesday night are yet to be disclosed.