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June 25, 2024

Will the EFL Championship use VAR soon? A former Premier League referee takes a firm stand – EFL CHAMPIONSHIP

Mark Halsey is not in favor of VAR in the Championship now.

Highlights

• The Championship’s VAR introduction has been delayed because of financial limitations and a lack of preparation; Halsey advocates improving the Premier League first.

• Mark Halsey thinks a revision to the VAR protocol is necessary, and consistency must first permeate the Championship.

• VAR was used in the EFL Play-off final, even though it hadn’t been used all season. Halsey says he prefers that no VAR be used in the Championship.

Ex-referee Mark Halsey has expressed his opposition to implementing VAR in the Championship, citing ongoing issues with the technology and voicing his disagreement with its use in the EFL play-off finals. VAR, which has been in existence for several years, was introduced to enhance football and assist referees on the pitch. After extensive testing, it has become a standard feature in elite football across Europe and in prominent international tournaments.

While VAR is now familiar in many top European leagues, including the Premier League, its introduction has often sparked controversy, with debates arising over decisions and their effects on teams each weekend. Currently, VAR has not been integrated into regular Championship matches. However, it has been utilized in some specific instances, such as during the 2021/22 season when it was implemented in the Championship, League One, and League Two play-off finals at Wembley.

In a fortunate turn for Southampton, the technology was scarcely needed during their uneventful play-off final against Leeds United, which ended with them securing promotion back to the Premier League.

Mark Halsey’s decision from VAR

While the EFL has stated that they have no plans to expedite the introduction of VAR, it has been previously reported that one of the reasons it isn’t used in the Championship is that it is “too expensive.” Although it is still an option, the introduction looks a long way off, as the costs seem too much at this point. However, it is said that less expensive options are being looked at for the Championship.

Mark Halsey, representing Poker Sites, briefly discussed his position on using technology with Football League World. He said: “I don’t want to see VAR in the Championship.”

“If we look at it in the Premier League, nobody wants it. VAR is here to stay, but we’ve got to get it right – the technology, we’ve got to get the consistency in the Premier League sorted first before introducing it in the Championship.”

“If we get the consistency, as well as the training and education right… If we look at the IFAB protocol, that’s not changed since VAR came into the game, so I think that needs looking at. The protocol needs revamping, we need to take out ‘clear and obvious error’ and bring in ‘error’. “At present, I wouldn’t want to see it brought into the Championship in the same way as it’s being operated in the Premier League at present. There’s got to be a vast improvement for me first.”

“We saw it in the EFL play-off finals. I know the play-off finals are massive, but they don’t use it all season and then bring it in for the finals… I’m not sure that’s right.”

“They said they didn’t want it but had to use it… So I’m quite happy with there being no VAR in the Championship currently.”

VAR in the EFL

The introduction of VAR in the EFL is a contentious topic that has divided fans; some advocate for its implementation, while others prefer the current system, which relies on immediate human judgment and the potential for on-field errors to influence outcomes. Despite having been in use in the Premier League for several seasons, VAR has not eliminated controversy, with decisions often scrutinized for both correct and incorrect reasons. It remains one of the most debated aspects of the sport.

While some fans argue that VAR could enhance the game, the Premier League’s experience raises questions about its impact since its introduction. Wolves were the only club to vote against a proposal to scrap VAR last month, suggesting that many teams in the top flight still see value in the technology. 

From a perspective on the widespread sentiment regarding VAR, one needs only ask Coventry fans about their feelings after their FA Cup semi-final defeat against Manchester United. This illustrates the mixed emotions surrounding the technology among EFL supporters.

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