PGMOL Shocks with New VAR Coach Ahead of Premier League Kickoff

Premier League PGMOL make important VAR announcement ahead of new Premier League season The latest Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham news as the PGMOL have announced the appointment of a new VAR performance coach ahead of the season. footballlondon Bookmark Share Comments Premier League By Amie Wilson Central Audience Writer 17:30, 4 AUG 2025 Bookmark The result of a VAR handball check. (Image: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire.) Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have announced the appointment of a new VAR (Video Assistant Referee) performance coach ahead of the new Premier League season. VAR was introduced to the Premier League right at the start of the 2019/2020 season, but it has been the subject of discussion ever since , due to so many high-profile decisions. Last summer, clubs took part in a vote on whether to scrap the system. Sides voted 19-1 in favour of keeping the system. For the technology to be scrapped, 14 of the 20 clubs needed to vote in favour of doing so - with only Wolverhampton Wanderers voting that way. VAR will be in use for the upcoming season, which gets underwat in just under two weeks time. Ahead of the first game, the PGMOL have announced Kevin Blom as the new VAR performance coach. In a statement, the much-talked-about organisation wrote: "Kevin brings extensive international refereeing experience - having officiated at the highest levels in the Netherlands, as a FIFA referee and a VMO in major tournaments including UEFA competitions and EURO 2020. "He has also, previously, served as VAR manager at the Royal Belgian Football Association, where he led significant advancements in VAR implementation. "We look forward to the expertise and insight Kevin will contribute, as we continue to strengthen our VAR training and performance programmes." There has been reports earlier this summer that the International FA Board (Ifab) were considering the powers that VAR has, to potentially include decisions over corners and second yellow cards. Currently, VAR can only rule on four categories; Goals, penalties, direct red cards and mistaken identity. But, speaking with BBC Sport earlier this month, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham was against that idea. "We don't think there's any need to extend the use of VAR," he said. "There are regular discussions in Ifab about what VAR should be, and how it should move forward. "I think our position is that we're in a good place now. Of course, if someone brings an item forward for Ifab to consider then, as a group, we'll consider it. "But, as a group, we don't necessarily think VAR needs to be extended at the moment." This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Sky Sports deal Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more. £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Football London Facebook X (Twitter) Comment More On Premier League VAR PGMOL

The result of a VAR handball check. (Image: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire.)

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have announced the appointment of a new VAR (Video Assistant Referee) performance coach ahead of the new Premier League season.

VAR was introduced to the Premier League right at the start of the 2019/2020 season, but it has been the subject of discussion ever since , due to so many high-profile decisions. Last summer, clubs took part in a vote on whether to scrap the system.

Sides voted 19-1 in favour of keeping the system. For the technology to be scrapped, 14 of the 20 clubs needed to vote in favour of doing so - with only Wolverhampton Wanderers voting that way.

VAR will be in use for the upcoming season, which gets underwat in just under two weeks time. Ahead of the first game, the PGMOL have announced Kevin Blom as the new VAR performance coach.

In a statement, the much-talked-about organisation wrote: "Kevin brings extensive international refereeing experience - having officiated at the highest levels in the Netherlands, as a FIFA referee and a VMO in major tournaments including UEFA competitions and EURO 2020.

"He has also, previously, served as VAR manager at the Royal Belgian Football Association, where he led significant advancements in VAR implementation.

"We look forward to the expertise and insight Kevin will contribute, as we continue to strengthen our VAR training and performance programmes."

There has been reports earlier this summer that the International FA Board (Ifab) were considering the powers that VAR has, to potentially include decisions over corners and second yellow cards. Currently, VAR can only rule on four categories; Goals, penalties, direct red cards and mistaken identity.

But, speaking with BBC Sport earlier this month, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham was against that idea. "We don't think there's any need to extend the use of VAR," he said. "There are regular discussions in Ifab about what VAR should be, and how it should move forward.

"I think our position is that we're in a good place now. Of course, if someone brings an item forward for Ifab to consider then, as a group, we'll consider it.

"But, as a group, we don't necessarily think VAR needs to be extended at the moment."