I worked for the PGMOL and we tested a manager on VAR, it went horribly wrong

An unnamed manager may be the reason why ex-players or bosses will never be called into the VAR hub at Stockley Park. The technology has been a topic of heated debate ever since its introduction to the English top flight in the 2019/20 campaign. VAR hasn’t exactly been a favourite of players, managers and fans alikeAFP via Getty Several Premier League players, managers and pundits have voiced their frustrations with it in interviews while fans have never been shy of airing their grievances with VAR either. However, the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) have often looked at ways to improve and enhance the way VAR is used to make in-game decisions and speed up processes. Just don’t expect that to include incorporating stars from yesteryear into the decision-making process. Former Premier League referee Jon Moss was asked by Aston Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor on talkSPORT Breakfast whether there would be opportunities for former players to come in and help with VAR. Agbonlahor cited the fact players have first-hand experience of knowing when a player is seeking contact for a foul and whether they had dived as a key reason behind his proposal. But Moss, who was Select Group 1 Manager at the PGMOL until March 2024, revealed how having experience of playing or managing the game doesn’t always translate to refereeing decisions. “When we were training as VAR when VAR first came in, we actually got some ex-players in Manchester to come in,” Moss said. “I won’t tell you who it was, but there was a manager who looked at a penalty for 13 minutes before being able to make a decision. “I’m not sure it would work with everybody.” One change to VAR that Moss would have been fully supportive of this season was the trial of in-stadium announcements. Moss isn’t convinced bringing in former players to make VAR decisions would be wise The change was brought in for the semi-finals of this season’s Carabao Cup as part of PGMOL’s commitment to transparency. It is something that has already been adopted in the A-League in Australia, where Moss is now the Head of Referees. Moss pointed to an example in the opening game of the A-League this season when Melbourne Victory’s Roderick Miranda was initially shown a yellow card for a high boot on Central Coast Mariners’ Mikael Doka. But after a VAR review, it was upgraded to a red card as Iranian-born referee Alireza Faghani made the announcement to the crowd in the Central Coast. “I think it (VAR) needs to change in terms of making the fans more engaged,” Moss said. “First game here, we have an Iranian referee (Faghani) who doesn’t speak great English, but he does the in-stadium announcements. talkSPORTThe former Premier League referee now works down under[/caption] “A guy gets caught in the head. He (Faghani) gives a yellow, VAR looks at it and sends him to the screen. “He (Faghani) didn’t say much. All he said was, ‘I give a yellow, now it’s a red.’ The crowd went absolutely mental. They were part of that decision-making process. “I’ve said to the refs, ‘Instead of being all technical when you go to the screen, just say what the football fans would understand’. “I’ve said, ‘If you want, you can go a bit Hollywood, because it gets the crowd going.'”

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I worked for the PGMOL and we tested a manager on VAR, it went horribly wrong

An unnamed manager may be the reason why ex-players or bosses will never be called into the VAR hub at Stockley Park.

The technology has been a topic of heated debate ever since its introduction to the English top flight in the 2019/20 campaign.

VAR hasn’t exactly been a favourite of players, managers and fans alike

Several Premier League players, managers and pundits have voiced their frustrations with it in interviews while fans have never been shy of airing their grievances with VAR either.

However, the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) have often looked at ways to improve and enhance the way VAR is used to make in-game decisions and speed up processes.

Just don’t expect that to include incorporating stars from yesteryear into the decision-making process.

Former Premier League referee Jon Moss was asked by Aston Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor on talkSPORT Breakfast whether there would be opportunities for former players to come in and help with VAR.

Agbonlahor cited the fact players have first-hand experience of knowing when a player is seeking contact for a foul and whether they had dived as a key reason behind his proposal.

But Moss, who was Select Group 1 Manager at the PGMOL until March 2024, revealed how having experience of playing or managing the game doesn’t always translate to refereeing decisions.

“When we were training as VAR when VAR first came in, we actually got some ex-players in Manchester to come in,” Moss said.

“I won’t tell you who it was, but there was a manager who looked at a penalty for 13 minutes before being able to make a decision.

“I’m not sure it would work with everybody.”

One change to VAR that Moss would have been fully supportive of this season was the trial of in-stadium announcements.

Moss isn’t convinced bringing in former players to make VAR decisions would be wise

The change was brought in for the semi-finals of this season’s Carabao Cup as part of PGMOL’s commitment to transparency.

It is something that has already been adopted in the A-League in Australia, where Moss is now the Head of Referees.

Moss pointed to an example in the opening game of the A-League this season when Melbourne Victory’s Roderick Miranda was initially shown a yellow card for a high boot on Central Coast Mariners’ Mikael Doka.

But after a VAR review, it was upgraded to a red card as Iranian-born referee Alireza Faghani made the announcement to the crowd in the Central Coast.

“I think it (VAR) needs to change in terms of making the fans more engaged,” Moss said.

“First game here, we have an Iranian referee (Faghani) who doesn’t speak great English, but he does the in-stadium announcements.

The former Premier League referee now works down under[/caption]

“A guy gets caught in the head. He (Faghani) gives a yellow, VAR looks at it and sends him to the screen.

“He (Faghani) didn’t say much. All he said was, ‘I give a yellow, now it’s a red.’ The crowd went absolutely mental. They were part of that decision-making process.

“I’ve said to the refs, ‘Instead of being all technical when you go to the screen, just say what the football fans would understand’.

“I’ve said, ‘If you want, you can go a bit Hollywood, because it gets the crowd going.'”