VAR Changes As Decisions Set to Be Explained Inside Stadiums by Referees

• VAR audio are reportedly set to be made public to fans in the stadium and at home in real-time
• FIFA are set to trial the new method in Portugal in a bid to improve the technology's transparency
• PGMOL have been releasing VAR audios of select controversial incidents weeks after the game

FIFA is reportedly set to approve a groundbreaking change in the usage of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in major leagues across Europe.

The VAR has been a controversial piece of technology since its introduction to football a couple of seasons ago. Many have argued that it has taken the joy out of football, with a lot of time used to arrive at decisions.

The interpretation of football by VARs has also been a major talking point, with the referee's body in England, PGMOL, particularly being forced to issue apologies now and then.

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Decisions to be explained to fans

However, in a significant shift of policy, FIFA is said to have authorised the VAR thought process to be made public to the audience at the stadium and everyone else following on TV. This is the approach rugby games use, known as the TMO, as explained by the Independent.

The audio will now be listened to as the referee and the VAR deliberate on decisions before deciding on the best way to proceed, according to a report by Records Portugal.

The report further states that Portugal will be the first country to adopt this new format as FIFA assesses its feasibility and appropriateness.

Head of referees in Portugal, Jose Fontelas Gomes, has previously admitted that the step would be a vital one to provide clarity to fans on what is happening in real time.

"What should happen in 2024 is for everyone in the stadium and all the viewers to hear the decision that the referee is going to make and why he made it at that moment. I will do everything possible to ensure we are the first to do that."

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Liverpool deserved penalty vs Arsenal

At the moment, clubs have been demanding for VAR audios of controversial decisions to be made public. In September last year, Liverpool were denied a perfect call against Tottenham after Luis Diaz was wrongly adjudged to be offside.

Head of PGMOL, Howard Webb, also recently admitted that Jurgen Klopp's side deserved a penalty against Arsenal on December 23, as reported by Sports Brief. Martin Odegaard handled the ball inside the area, but the VAR waved off the appeals.