Former Premier League referee Rebecca Welch has backed the move that sees officials make in-stadium annoucements about VAR decisions.
Welch became the first woman to take charge of a top-flight game back in December 2023 when she oversaw Fulham’s clash with Burnley. She is now the PGMOL’s manager of the Select Group Women’s Professional Game officials.
The organisation also oversees officials at the top level of the men’s game. One of those referees, Stuart Attwell, made history last week when he announced a VAR decision to the crowd for the first time.
Attwell was taking charge of Tottenham’s win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup and confirmed to the crowd that a goal for Dominic Solanke had been ruled out for offside. It is a move that Welch believes will improve supporters’ experience with VAR.
“The announcements coming in, that’s not new to me because we were part of it at the (Women’s) World Cup,” Welch said. “When it came in it was a little bit daunting, because as a referee we sell everything with our body language.
“We never used to have to sell stuff with our mouths. So that was quite interesting to try at the World Cup. But listen, I think if you’re in a stadium, I’ve been in stadiums where sometimes, if a check takes long, you want to know what’s going on.
“Stuart did the first one the other night, and I think it’s been received quite well. His announcement was very clear, concise and to the point.”
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While Welch has backed the move, not everyone has been impressed with the change. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou launched an angry rant following the game, railing against the move.
“I’m really surprised with how people in this country easily let the game change so quickly,” Postecoglou said when asked about VAR. It’s changed more since VAR came in then it has in the last 50 years. We never used to debate offsides, holding in the box.
“Did anyone really love the announcement today? Did that give anyone a buzz? We need to be careful and why do we want to change the game so much? I just thought people will be more protective of the sanctity of the game.
“I think there’s a lot of confusion at the moment off the basis of technology and I feel like why is no one speaking up about it?
“Especially in this country where you’re custodians of the game, you have a song which says it’s coming home, this is your game and it takes an Aussie from the other side of the world to ask about changes.”
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