Premier League to publish referee, VAR explanations after matches

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August 18, 2026 8:38 pm

Premier League releases 2026/27 season schedule | EPL

Premier League supporters will get more access to referees’ and VARs’ explanations this season, with direct officials’ wording, selected Ref Cam audio and weekly assessments of key decisions set to be published through the league’s digital platforms.
The Premier League and professional referees’ body Pro Ref said the expanded communications would provide supporters with more information about how and why decisions are made during matches.
PUNCH Online reports that the 2026/27 football season begins Friday with defending champion Arsenal FC playing newly promoted side Coventry FC.
Under the new approach, the Premier League Match Centre will publish direct quotes from on-field referees and VARs in selected incidents where the wording can help explain a decision.
The league said this could include the “referee’s call” made on the pitch, as well as the VAR’s explanation for why an intervention was not made or why an on-field review was recommended.
“This season, communications from Premier League Match Centre will include direct quotes from the on-field officials and from VAR, in selected incidents where this can be helpful to clarify the rationale behind a decision,” the Premier League said in its statement on Tuesday.
“This can include the “referee’s call” as described on-field, and the VAR’s direct explanation for why they do not intervene or why they recommended an on-field review,” the statement added.
The communications will be published on the Premier League Match Centre account on X and, for the first time, through a dedicated page on the Premier League website and app, which will be updated for each match round.Make PUNCH part of your everyday experience.Add us to your Preferred Sources
The changes will also extend to Ref Cam, which provides footage from the referee’s perspective during Premier League matches.
The Premier League said Ref Cam, which was used to provide selected in-game video clips last season, would now include audio from selected incidents.
“Ref Cam offers a unique perspective from the referee’s view during Premier League matches.
“Last season, we saw in-game video clips being used in select incidents and next season, this will be expanded to include audio clips,” it added. I’m always happy to play for Nigeria – Iheanacho ‘Dele-Bashiru has lots to learn tactically’ Havertz picks Champions League final goal as favourite Arsenal strike
The audio will only be used in matches featuring Ref Cam, which the league said would be approximately one or two games per match round, and only for selected incidents.
“This will not include live or in-game audio from the VAR, in line with the restrictions defined by IFAB,” the Premier League said.

From the 2026/27 season, the league will also publish the weekly findings of its Key Match Incident (KMI) Panel on its website and app.
The KMI Panel was introduced during the 2022/23 season as an independent body responsible for reviewing key decisions as part of the assessment of match officials’ performances.
Its reviews cover critical incidents including penalties, red cards, offside decisions and other situations within the referee’s jurisdiction.
“Each decision by Match Officials is adjudged to be correct or incorrect in the opinion of the panel, made up of three former players or coaches, alongside a representative from each of the Premier League and Pro Ref,” the statement further said.
The league said the weekly publication of the panel’s findings would provide greater transparency around the evaluation of refereeing decisions.
Meanwhile, Pro Ref Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb will continue to front the “Match Officials Mic’d Up” programme, which is distributed through Premier League broadcast partners.
The programme features the release of full on-field and VAR audio surrounding selected incidents, alongside Webb’s analysis.
“The show allows the release of the full on-field and VAR audio around selected incidents, alongside Howard’s analysis, to provide further rationale and bring supporters closer to the decisions made in the Premier League,” EPL stated.
The league and Pro Ref will also continue lobbying the International Football Association Board (IFAB), football’s lawmaking body, to allow more communications from match officials to be broadcast during live matches.

Tosin Oyediran
Tosin Oyediran is a journalist with Punch Newspapers, bringing over eight years of newsroom experience to his coverage of politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment. Known for sharp interviews and human-centered reporting, his work focuses on public accountability, civic issues, and the stories shaping everyday lives.

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