VAR warning issued to Premier League referees by Mark Clattenburg as new system rolled out
Mark Clattenburg is urging referees to become less reliant on the video assistant technology this season after commitment to improve experience for fans inside stadiums
Mark Clattenburg has told Premier League referees they must not lean too heavily on VAR this season by warning officials they are responsible for setting the right tone.
The ex-ref, who controversially acted as an advisor for Nottingham Forest last season, has suggested that the current crop must take greater ownership over their decisions during games and not rely upon the technology.
VAR is getting significant tweaks this season designed to ensure fans are informed with greater clarity and more quickly - alongside a new “umpire’s call” approach to on-field decisions that will attempt to replace the “clear and obvious” view that has caused such consternation.
The Premier League has already created a new social media account aimed at communicating decisions to fans as soon as possible, while PGMOL chief Howard Webb has vowed to make all-round improvements.
The Premier League is also planning to introduce semi-automated offsides later this season - likely after the October international break - to speed up decision-making there.
And, speaking to the BBC, Clattenburg said: “The referees have a responsibility, starting this weekend, to get as many decisions right on the field and not rely on VAR. Then VAR will work every so many games, not once or twice a game as we saw last season.
“What I found [last season] was the referees weren't making the split-second decisions like they used to do and it was going to VAR.
"VAR was then saying there isn't the line of intervention where I want to come in because the referee isn't clearly wrong. So you get these inconsistencies and anger from the fans.”
There were no controversies in the opening two fixtures of the season - with the most notable call being Manchester United centre back Harry Maguire receiving a red card for diving in their slender win against Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday night.
Clattenburg, 49, is now working on reality TV show Gladiators and left his role as Forest advisor in May after only three months at the City Ground.
He was left in a difficult position after the club publicly questioned the standard of refereeing and suggested on social media that allegiances to other clubs could be impacting decisions.
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