Referee Neil Swarbrick: VAR may not lead to more penalty kicks in Premier League

Do you think the use of VAR in the Premier League this season will increase the number of penalties awarded?

With the threshold of clear and obvious we are generally leaving everything to the on-field referees.

It all depends on the communication, what the referee has seen and his explanation married up with the views.

If he has made a clear and obvious error, the VAR will step in. Whether it will increase the number of penalties, only time will tell.

The stats for the 69 matches we have done in the League Cup and FA Cup have not shown a big increase in penalties awarded.

The VAR hub based in Stockley Park

Do you think the increase in penalties we have seen, for example in the Women’s World Cup, is because of changes to the handball law or the use of VAR?

The way we operate with handball and the way we have done in the last four or five seasons in the Premier League is slightly different to how other competitions have operated.

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We are going to do the same as we have done. So we are expecting defenders’ arms to be in natural positions when they challenge for the ball - if the ball strikes their hand, as long as it’s not away from the body or above the head, then we’re not going to intervene. We’ll just leave it as we always have done.

How can you ensure that the pace and intensity of the Premier League isn’t going to be hampered by the use of VAR this season?

We are conscious of the Premier League product and why it’s sold and the pace and intensity are the main reasons for that.

We are tending to limit the time spent in the referee review area, so there is a lot of trust between the lads who operate VAR and the on-field referees.

We have operated like this for the last two and a half years. If VAR advises on a decision, the referees should be quite comfortable taking on board what the VAR is saying and making the decision based on that advice.

If it is completely out of kilter with what the referee is saying, then he’s still within his rights to go over to the RRA. Hopefully that’ll decrease the time taken and chances of the game being held up.

Can you summarise how the decisions are going to be communicated to those inside the stadium?

Fortunately there are 18 Premier League clubs who have large screens in the stadium so there will be graphics shown to inform spectators the decision is being checked.

When that decision has been checked, the graphics will show what the decision is and backing that up will be a replay of the decision being overturned.

For example, say a challenge has gone in, a yellow card has been given by the referee but, after the VAR has looked at it, it has been changed to a red card, the challenge will be shown on screen.

There’ll also be a PA announcement explaining the decision that has been made so that the visually-impaired do not miss out on the experience.

Two Premier League clubs do not have the large screens so what we can do is utilise the scoreboards, so they will get the graphics but not the definitive replay of the event.

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