Inside Premier League's £1m VAR hub branded 'holiday camp' by former ref
The Premier League VAR officials might be under huge pressure after a string of mishaps - but at least they're blundering in comfort.
The use of technology has ignited debate and controversy in equal measures this season, with games including Tottenham vs Liverpool and Newcastle vs Arsenal completely overshadowed by dubious decisions. Indeed, PGMOL chief Howard Webb has now opted to release audio from matches in a bid to provide clarity to disgruntled fans.
And if the system wasn't causing enough resentment as it is, the cost of the base used by those at Stockley Park will further fuel the fire. Referees don't just have computers and replays at their disposal, but also a luxurious lounge, supplemented by a canteen, gym facilities, a massage area and even a pool table.
The £1million complex also boasts idealistic views over London, with Howard Webb ensuring the men in charge can enjoy complete comfort while working on games. But another ex-referee, Mark Halsey, has slammed the make-up of the building, implying it makes a mockery of the current farce.
“The facilities on offer at Stockley Park make it seem like a holiday camp," he said, via . "But referees and officials are there to do a job. Howard wants a central hub but doesn’t need a workplace where it is all about rest and relaxation.
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“The money spent is a tidy sum but what are we getting for it? Certainly not world-class officials. Nice conference rooms, top-of the-range furniture, a gym and an area for table tennis. I could understand splashing the cash on accessories if VARs were getting the decisions right. But they’re not so it’s a waste of money."
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Mikel Arteta has been among the more high-profile managers to vent his fury at the use of the technology, with Halsey also arguing that officiating has gone "backwards" since its introduction. And the 62-year-old thinks that the excess money spent on the home of VAR could be better utilised.
“We should be putting the money into producing better quality coaching and training for officials, rather than facilities at Stockley Park," he added. “The standard of refereeing is not what it should be at elite level."
Despite the surroundings, officials at Stockley Park have made a series of blunders in the 2023/24 Premier League season (populous.com/)Furthermore, Halsey sounded the commonly held view that video officials should be based at the ground where they are scrutinising decisions, as opposed to a studio in England's capital. And it will be of little comfort to bewildered fans, managers, and indeed players, to learn that the outcome of the games are being affected from a state-of-the-art complex.
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