Statistics have shown that, during the last Premier League campaign, controversial calls would have allowed at least twenty goals to stand. It is safe to say it would have made quite a difference with the final standings.For that reason, Premier League sides have been informed on what to expect from VAR this season, with controversial offside decisions going against strikers being hopefully prevented in full.Mike Riley, chief of referees, says officials have taken into account complaints from players, managers and supporters regarding VAR’s use in its second campaign in the English top-tier.New interpretation of the rules will be viewed with mixed feelings for attackers, with decisions regarding penalties and offsides facing changes.VAR either needs improving or it needs to go, as far as Premier League fans are concernedThe Sun reports that as far as offsides go, VAR will continue to use thin one-pixel lines to determine if there is a violation, but will also add a thicker line, which broadcasters favour.If the thicker line covers the thinner line, then the benefit of the doubt will be afforded to the player going for goal. This could result in fewer irritating offside calls in which footballers have been given offside for their armpit or any other body-part not crucial for the play being in the incorrect position.With its forensic nature disliked by supporters, VAR’s interpretation of offside has been widely slammed by vast swathes of the football community also.While the new offside rulings may favour strikers, VAR will focus more on clarifying penalty calls made using the technology.What if VAR was one of us?It has been also reported to the teams that penalties shots will no longer be called for all the contacts with mere intensity, as television replays often showed that the ruling was detrimental to the defender.’We spent a lot of time last season talking to the clubs, players, managers and to fans’ groups, looking at how we can improve refereeing within the context of Premier League football.’ Riley said.’Some of the things are VAR-related, like marginal offsides, but fundamentally we want the approach to be one that best allows the players to express themselves – allows the Premier League game to flow.’It means that the refereeing team of referees and VARs don’t intervene for the trivial offences.’
