‘SHI ON FIRE’:”Wolves Chairman Warns Premier League Rivals About Scrapping VAR…Read more
“Wolves Chairman Issues Warning to Premier League Rivals Over VAR Abolition Vote”
Wolverhampton Wanderers chairman Jeff Shi has cautioned that the Premier League could suffer lasting harm if clubs reject his team’s proposal to eliminate Video Assistant Referees (VAR). The proposal, introduced on Wednesday, calls for VAR to be discontinued starting with the 2024-25 season. This follows a series of significant mistakes by officials using VAR this season, which led Wolves manager Gary O’Neil to receive an apology from Jon Moss, the referees’ officer for PGMOL at the time.
Some managers have already voiced their opinions on the proposals. Chelsea’s Mauricio Pochettino has advocated for “improving the way we use” VAR, while Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag and Newcastle’s Eddie Howe have indicated that the technology is likely to remain in use.
An important vote is scheduled for early June, requiring the support of 14 out of the 20 Premier League clubs for Wolves’ motion to pass. Writing in The Telegraph, Shi has cautioned his peers in the league.
“The Premier League’s match-going fans are increasingly disengaged due to the negative impact of VAR on the match experience. This is causing apathy and hostility in the stands and on social media, negative comments from pundits, players, and managers, and a harmful erosion of trust in football authorities and officials,” Shi writes. “All of this is damaging to the Premier League’s brand and reputation, and if we don’t stop it now, the damage may become irreversible.”
He stated that the current form of VAR in English football “isn’t compatible with a sport of highly subjective laws” and warned that it could harm the Premier League’s reputation without further changes. “We should act now to remove it and regain the essence of what makes the Premier League and English football such a captivating phenomenon,” he added.
While acknowledging the unanimous vote that introduced VAR, he rejected the notion that reversing it would be an “admission of failure.” He urged club leaders to listen to fans when voting on VAR’s removal and called for decisive action, arguing that supporting his club’s motion could help preserve the “passion, spontaneity, and authenticity” of the Premier League.
According to a VAR table compiled by ESPN, Wolves have been the most negatively affected Premier League team due to VAR decisions, losing six points based on overturned calls.
“The Premier League can confirm it will facilitate a discussion on VAR with
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