EPL to make conversations between referees and VARs officials public 

The aim of the plan is to increase transparency about refereeing decisions

EPL to make conversations between referees and VARs officials public 
Referee

Recordings of conversations between referees and VARs will be made available to the public after matches under a English Premier League plan.

The aim of the plan is to increase transparency about refereeing decisions and the Premier League’s chief executive, Richard Masters, confirmed that the idea had broad support. It would only cover post-match release of the audio as football’s lawmakers do not allow live broadcasts.

The practice already takes place in the US’s Major League Soccer — whose head of refereeing, Howard Webb, is set to return to the Premier League as the new referees’ chief — with a review of decisions including the audio released on YouTube.

Masters said: “There is a general view that [releasing the audio] is a good thing. There is a desire to be more open with fans about referees’ decision-making and how we do that precisely we need to work out.”

Masters, speaking publicly for the first time since the sale of Chelsea, said there had been “real concern” that the takeover would not go through in time and that a new, tougher owners’ and directors’ test would aim to tackle some of the issues raised by Roman Abramovich’s ownership. The Russian oligarch had to sell the club after being sanctioned by the UK government following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

 “Ultimately, there wasn’t an owners’ and directors’ test when Roman Abramovich took ownership of Chelsea,” he said.

Asked if the Abramovich era at Chelsea had been bad for the Premier League’s reputation,” Masters said: “It’s difficult to say now with hindsight that it’s all been good, obviously, given what has transpired. But I think if you ask Chelsea fans, they’d give you a different answer.”

With the Premier League season starting on Friday, Masters also confirmed that the league’s investigation into Manchester City over alleged Financial Fair Play breaches was continuing more than three years after it was launched.

Captains of the top-flight clubs will have another meeting with players this week to decide whether to continue taking the knee before matches.