The Premier League is launching a social media account dedicated to providing timely updates and explanations on officiating and operational decisions for each match, aiming to address concerns about the video assistant referee (VAR) system.
Despite facing significant backlash last season, teams voted to retain VAR in June after Wolverhampton Wanderers started a petition to eliminate the controversial technology-aided officiating system.
“In the absence of live VAR audio being broadcast, as it is not permitted in football, the Premier League Match Centre will be able to rely on social media near-live information from the Hub during a game,” the league said in a statement
The X account, @PLMatchCentre, will share referee decisions and offer insights directly from the technical hub and refereeing experts. According to the league, the main goal is to increase transparency.
Additionally, Professional Games and Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) experts, who oversee officiating in the league, will explain the rules of the game and provide further details and updates on VAR decision-making processes when needed.