Head of Premier League referees, Howard Webb, is considering a groundbreaking change that could see referees explaining their decisions directly to the crowd inside stadiums starting next season.
Currently, IFAB, the governing body for world football, prohibits any live discussions between match officials from being broadcast inside a stadium.
Although The International Football Association Board (IFAB), responsible for football’s laws, initiated a successful 12-month trial of this approach in international tournaments before incorporating it into the Laws of the Game.
Several leagues, including Liga MX, MLS and the Australian A-League, have already adopted this policy. During the Women’s World Cup, FIFA learned that the explanation should be followed by the decision, not vice versa, and the Premier League should follow the same course of action.
However, IFAB remains firm that real-time conversations between the VAR and the on-field referee will not be made public through broadcasters.
Despite this rule, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), responsible for appointing Premier League referees, is advocating for a shift in this policy in the future.
Webb during his appearance on Match Officials Mic’d Up, said: “When you hear the clips on shows like this it makes sense what’s happening; it all becomes apparent. We’re looking at ways to improve the in-stadium experience.
“One of the things you’ll have seen maybe in FIFA tournaments, like the Women’s World Cup, is announcements from the referee once they’ve been to the screen.
So we’re looking at that, we’re keeping an open mind about whether that’s something we could utilise in the Premier League. It would be really useful for the referee to be able to speak to all of the people in the stadium [to explain] the rationale.” Webb concluded.
