VAR in the EFL: What it could mean for Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and rivals as plans revealed

Video Assistant Referees could be introduced to the EFL in the coming years - but what do we know about the current plans, and how they could affect Portsmouth?
By Mark Donnelly
Published 18th Feb 2022, 14:35 BST
Updated 18th Feb 2022, 14:38 BST

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VAR in the EFL: What it could mean for Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and rivals as plans revealedVAR in the EFL: What it could mean for Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and rivals as plans revealed
VAR in the EFL: What it could mean for Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and rivals as plans revealed

A report in The Times has revealed that plans are in place to introduce a slimmed-down VAR system to the EFL and Women’s Super League.

So what are the plans, when could they be introduced, and what could it mean for clubs? We take a look:

What is the current situation with VAR in the EFL?

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While VAR is currently used in every Premier League fixture, it is not currently utilised in the EFL.

Indeed, the only time that EFL clubs could see VAR used in a fixture is if they are drawn to play a Premier League side away from home in a cup competition.

However, that is not a guarantee - with some games involving lower league sides at Premier League grounds not using the technology.

What is being suggested?

The latest plans could see a ‘VAR-light’ product introduced to the EFL.

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This would essentially be a stripped back version of what is currently used in the Premier League, involving fewer cameras - and therefore substantially reducing the cost.

Anywhere from one to eight cameras could be used, depending upon the system chosen by the EFL.

It would be used to help avoid damaging referee mistakes over incidents such as red cards and penalties, but could not assist with the more minute matters, such as offside calls.

The International Football Association Board are set to approve the introduction of these systems at their meeting on March 3 after successful trials in a number of countries - including the Netherlands.

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That would in turn give the EFL the green light to introduce the system in the future.

When could VAR be introduced in the EFL?

According to The Times report, VAR could be introduced to the EFL as soon as the 2023/24 season.

What leagues will introduce VAR in the EFL?

It looks likely that VAR will initially be introduced in the Championship only - meaning it will only affect Portsmouth if they are promoted to the second tier by the 2023/23 season.

What could the costs of VAR be to Portsmouth?

Given this reduced VAR system is a fairly new product, the costings remain unclear.

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In 2019, the FA Cup handbook stated that clubs would be charged £9,251 for the use of VAR in a fixture.

Across a 46-game league season, that would total a cost of £425,546.

However, that was the original system of VAR - and this new, light version is understood to be a lot more cost-effective.

Related topics:EFLPremier LeagueVARPortsmouthIpswich Town

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