Premier League 'considering major change to VAR' amid Mikel Arteta complaints

The Premier League will consider implementing a major change to VAR amid complaints from managers such as Arsenal's Mikel Arteta.

VAR has been a hot topic of discussion ever since it was first introduced to the Premier League for the 2019/20 season.

But a series of controversial decisions in recent times - over four years since VAR was first used - has led to increasing debate over how it operates, and how it should operate in the future.

From Liverpool star Luis Diaz seeing his goal against Tottenham ruled out for offside due to human error, all the way to a number of controversial penalty and offside calls, many believe that VAR has to change - and quickly.

One of those voices is Mikel Arteta, who was furious with the decision to allow Anthony Gordon's goal to stand during the Gunners' 1-0 defeat to Newcastle last week.

The Spaniard exclaimed: "It's incredible. I feel embarrassed, but I have to be the one to come in here and try and defend the club, and please ask for help, because it's an absolute disgrace that this goal is allowed."

An independent panel later ruled that VAR made the correct decision to allow the goal in that instance, but the Premier League are still reportedly looking at ways to change the technology.

According to the Daily Mail, the league are considering appointing a new VAR operator, with current operator Hawk--Eye's contract expiring at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Hawk-Eye has delivered major success in cricket, with its ball-tracking technology showing how the ball moves in the air once it has pitched. The technology is also used in rugby and tennis to great effect.

And Hawk-Eye is responsible for the goal-line technology used in the Premier League that, unlike VAR, has seen a consistently high success rate.

But the Mail claim that there is an 'acceptance' that its move to football has been 'challenging' in comparison.

It is added that rival operators and data companies are preparing to pitch to take over the VAR rights once Hawk-Eye's deal expires, in what would be one of the most significant changes to the technology in its short history.

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