Premier League referees could soon announce decisions to crowds and television audiences as part of new attempts to improve the VAR process.
Referees' chief Howard Webb says the PGMOL are considering implementing the change - which was seen during last year's Women's World Cup in Australia and has also been introduced in domestic men's football in Australia, Mexico and the USA - and it could come into force for the start of next season.
Speaking on the latest edition of the 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' programme, Webb said he hopes the move will help fans understand more about the the process of VAR and why certain decisions had been made.
"It does need improving, doesn't it?" said Webb. "When you hear the clips on shows like this it makes sense what's happening; it all becomes apparent. We're looking at ways to improve the in-stadium experience.
"One of the things you'll have seen maybe in FIFA tournaments, like the Women's World Cup, is announcements from the referee once they've been to the screen. So we're looking at that, we're keeping an open mind about whether that's something we could utilise in the Premier League.
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Referees could announce VAR decisions to crowds in the Premier League (Nigel Keene/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)"It would be really useful for the referee to be able to speak to all of the people in the stadium [and to explain] the rationale."
It is expected that the reasoning behind decisions would only be explained after the referee had gone to the pitch-side monitor for a VAR review that changed the on-field decision. There wouldn't be an explanation if the VAR check resulted in the decision not being overturned.
Referees announced decisions to crowds at last year's Women's World Cup (PA)After initial teething issues at the Women's World Cup the officials eventually talked through the process behind the decision before then awarding it, and it would be expected that a similar process would follow in the Premier League.
However, the league would still need to approve the change for it to come into force next season, while there are currently no plans to broadcast live, real-time conversations between the on-field referee and the VAR such as in cricket or both codes of rugby.
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