Former referee Mike Dean has told Richard Keys “it won’t be long” before Premier League fans can hear VAR conversations.
The World Cup in Qatar saw several refereeing changes from what viewers of English football are used to – which appeared to change the spectacle for the better. For the most part, there was a more lenient approach to challenges that allowed matches to flow better.
And with Mike Riley stepping down as English football’s chief refereeing officer in favour of Howard Webb, those changes are expected to spread to the Premier League.
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Ex-ref Dean was a regular feature of beIN SPORT’s coverage of the World Cup, where he provided detailed analysis of refereeing decisions during games. He is said to have told presenter Keys that Szymon Marciniak’s performance in the final was “the best ever”.
And Dean even went on to tell Keys personally that a change in the near future will see discussions between referees and VAR operators at the monitor broadcasted to increase transparency with fans.
Keys wrote on his blog: “VAR wasn’t intrusive in the way it has been in the PL. They encouraged the refs to make the big decisions. According to Dean that’s one change we’re doing to see in the PL now we’re finally shot of Mike Riley – and Howard Webb is in charge.
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“He’s going to encourage refs – and VAR – to stay with the original decisions. Our game will be better for it. It will encourage refs to be brave again.
“Oh – Dean also told me that it won’t be long before we’ll all be able to hear the exchanges at the monitor. That too will be a huge leap forward.”
The new approach follows that which is used in cricket and rugby already. Premier League fans will be hoping it sparks a change amid the dubious decision-making they have come to expect on a weekly basis in the top flight.
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