Ahead of the 2024-25 season, the Premier League, in its bid to reduce controversies surrounding its officiating, has launched a new social media account with the aim of supplying fans with “near-live explainers and updates on operational and officiating matters for every Premier League match.”
Following numerous controversies that emanated from the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, Premier League clubs expressed their frustrations with Wolverhampton Wanderers putting forward a petition to scrap the VAR, while Nottingham Forest took to social media to convey their anger after a series of calls did not go in their favour.
However, in June, teams voted in favour of keeping VAR amid high levels of complaints from fans and clubs with a 19-1 count.
With just two days to the commencement of the new season, the Premier League announced on Tuesday that a new account with the handle @PLMatchCentre has been opened on X (formerly Twitter), with the purpose of sharing explanations of on-pitch refereeing decisions, including VAR.
The Premier League statement read: “The Premier League has launched a new X account @PLMatchCentre ahead of the start of the 2024/25 season.
“For the first time, the social media account will provide near-live explainers and updates on operational and officiating matters for every Premier League match.
“The account will post factual explanations of on-pitch refereeing decisions and the involvement of the video assistant referee (VAR) including the role of technology in the decision-making process.
“In the absence of live VAR audio being broadcast, as it is not permitted in football, the Premier League Match Centre will be able to relay on social media near-live information from the VAR Hub during a game.”
The 2024-25 Premier League season kicks off on Friday, August 16, with 13-time winners Manchester United set to take on Fulham at Old Trafford.
