FA Chief Backs VAR Amid Premier League’s Vote to Scrap It
Mark Bullingham, the chief executive of England’s Football Association (FA), has reaffirmed his support for the use of Video Assistant Referees (VAR), even as the Premier League considers abolishing the technology. Speaking at FIFA’s annual congress in Bangkok, Bullingham emphasized the importance of minimizing errors in football matches.
“We like matches with as few mistakes as possible,” Bullingham stated. “I don’t think you can ever reach perfection, and VAR still needs fine-tuning, but overall, we think it is helping to eradicate some errors, and that’s a good thing. So, we’re supportive, but it’s obviously up to every league whether they adopt it or not.”
Since its introduction to the Premier League in the 2019-20 season, VAR has been a source of controversy, causing delays during games and often failing to improve refereeing decisions as expected. This week, Wolverhampton Wanderers submitted a resolution for the Premier League’s annual meeting on June 6 to vote on scrapping VAR.
Implications for Asian Football
Bullingham’s stance could have significant implications for football leagues across Asia. Many Asian leagues, including those in Japan, South Korea, and China, have adopted VAR technology to enhance the accuracy of officiating. The ongoing debates in Europe may influence how Asian football associations approach the use of VAR in their competitions.
As Asian football continues to grow in prominence on the global stage, decisions made by leading football associations like the FA could impact policies and technological adoption in the region. Business professionals and investors monitoring the sports industry in Asia may find opportunities in technology and services related to VAR implementation and improvement.
Reference(s):
FA chief backs VAR despite Premier League's upcoming vote to scrap it
cgtn.com
