This archive report was first published on 12 August 2019.
The Premier League's use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology has left fans bewildered, with several contentious calls during the weekend's matches.
VAR, previously used in England in the FA and League Cups, aims to eradicate doubt over key decisions. However, its implementation in the Premier League has raised concerns about transparency and clarity.
Manchester City's Sergio Aguero had a penalty retaken due to encroachment by defenders in their 5-0 win over West Ham. Meanwhile, a disallowed goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers' Leander Dendoncker sparked controversy.
Wolves captain Conor Coady reacted to the decision, saying, "We are going to have to play with our hands chopped off in future."
Former England striker and TV pundit Alan Shearer took issue with the lack of transparency, suggesting that fans should be able to hear the conversation between officials and the VAR referee.
Shearer wrote, "If the fans could actually hear what the referee is hearing from the VAR officials, that would be a massive improvement for me."
He argued that fans pay to watch their team play and deserve to understand the reasoning behind decisions.
TV viewers, on the other hand, see the images being studied by the VAR referee but cannot hear the conversation.
Former leading English referee Keith Hackett concurred about the need for greater transparency, suggesting that the Premier League publish a breakdown of all VAR checks made during a match.
He also proposed playing video footage on the big screen inside the grounds, so fans can understand what is happening in real-time.
