Major VAR development for Championship and Nottingham Forest games

A version of the Video Assistant referee could reportedly be introduced into the Championship next season in order to cut the number of refereeing blunders being made.

The VAR format is currently used in both the Premier League and European competitions but is said to be too expensive to run and manage in the Championship.

It has led to a ‘low cost alternative’ being an option, according to The Times.

An EFL source told the paper: “If there is a low-cost video monitoring system that stops the real blunders but does not get into a toenail being offside or studying every handball in minute detail then that could be the best of both worlds.”

It is said that talks between the EFL and the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) have taken place over an adapted system being introduced as soon as next season.

The technology company Dartfish has developed new systems involving four cameras which can be installed within 45 minutes, stationed around the pitch.

It will involve a life fee being sent to a VAR official sitting in the stands, while the pitchside monitor that is used in the Premier League will be replaced with an iPad.

Nottingham Forest had a taste of VAR during their FA Cup clash vs Premier League giants Chelsea back in January 2020.

The system intervened after referee Peter Bankes awarded Forest a penalty at Stamford Bridge with the side denied a spot-kick due to a marginal offside in the build-up to the incident.

The news comes off the back of an announcement of the Premier League’s Elite Referee Development plan last week.

The scheme is intended to "completely overhaul match officiating in English football" with "the lofty aim of establishing a new global standard in match officiating performance and