For the first time in England, referees will announce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions to football supporters inside stadiums during the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
As part of a trial, referees will provide final decision announcements after consulting the VAR pitchside monitor or when making rulings on factual issues, such as accidental handball by a goalscorer or offside infractions where the attacker touches the ball.
This approach, commonly seen in sports like rugby union and American football, was previously tested during the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The trial will be conducted during both legs of each semi-final matchup: Arsenal vs. Newcastle and Tottenham vs. Liverpool.
Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) stated that the initiative is part of its “commitment to transparency” and aims to offer fans greater clarity and understanding of key decisions.
Referees have been preparing for these in-stadium announcements during training camps and practice sessions held at stadium venues. The match officials for the semi-finals will be revealed on Tuesday.
While the Premier League Match Centre account on X provides “near-live” explanations of VAR decisions, this marks the first time announcements will be delivered directly to fans at the stadiums.
The first legs of the semi-finals are scheduled for 7 and 8 January 2025, with the return fixtures set for 5 and 6 February.