Maguire/Azpilicueta incident among specimens for rule changes

Maguire/Azpilicueta incident among specimens for rule changes

 

Red card merchant! Referees will have amended guidelines after Thursday's meeting with top officials. (Photo credit: @FA)

Harry Maguire's controversial clash with Cesar Azpilicueta is one of the clips sent to clubs by Premier League chiefs as they seek to improve VAR.

The Manchester United defender escaped punishment, either from referee Martin Atkinson or VAR, during the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford last October despite having his arms around the Chelsea defender’s neck inside the penalty area.

The incident was from a corner kick to Chelsea, and recent incidents show official have been inconsistent from such situations, leaving many to question the credibility of the video assistant referee.

Responses have been returned to the governing body ahead of Thursday’s meeting of Premier League clubs, where VAR will be high on the agenda.

There’s been so much uncertainties around the VAR, almost all the clubs in the league can mention a moment they felt hurt by the technology, also putting center referees under the spotlight and bringing up questions of incompetence.

As Sportsmail first revealed last Thursday, the League wrote to clubs requesting feedback from managers, directors of football and captains — with changes set to be implemented next season. They were asked to look at offside and penalty decisions, handballs and red cards.

It is understood that clubs were sent a series of clips of incidents since VAR was introduced at the start of last season, with the Maguire/Azpilicueta clash thought to have been among them.

Notable among the clips sent was the Erik Pieters/Nicholas Pepe incident last month where Arsenal would be left bitter after the Dutchman handled twice in the area and VAR didn’t even look at it after the referee thought he saw it clearly.

They were asked to watch each clip, then presented with yes/no questions about whether VAR should have intervened, and whether the right decision was reached. Club representatives were then invited to explain briefly their answers.

At the end of the questionnaire, they were given the opportunity to say how they thought the system could be made better. While the power to change the laws belongs to IFAB, the Premier League are keen to canvass opinion across their competition following a number of difficulties this season and last.

VAR was introduced in the Premier League at the start of last season. The Premier League say there was a rise incorrect decisions from 82 per cent in 2018-19 to 94 per cent last season.

Clubs have grown increasingly frustrated at the lack of consistency in the decision-making process, and also the time taken to reach a verdict on the tightest calls, such as marginal offsides and disputed handballs.