Liverpool have confirmed there will be no big screens installed at Anfield this season despite the introduction of VAR for every Premier League match.
The ECHO reported earlier this summer the club had no plans to change the current configuration inside the stadium to accommodate the new technology.
And the Reds have now released information to inform supporters how VAR (video assistant referees) decisions will be relayed to the crowd, starting with Friday's season opener at home to Norwich City.
VAR communications at Anfield will be made via a combination of announcements over the public address system and written messages on the two electronic scoreboards – one situated in the corner of the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand and Kop, the other on the Main Stand.
A dedicated stadium announcer and scoreboard operator will be situated in Anfield’s control room and will have access to the live VAR information feed.
In the event of the referee indicating a VAR review, the operator will then replicate the exact wording of the VAR information feed on to the scoreboard, alongside a simultaneous announcement over the PA system for those who cannot see the scoreboards.
All VAR information will come from from the Premier League Match Centre in Stockley Park, West London, with fans watching on television updated with the same messaging via the host broadcaster’s feed.
The Premier League are taking a “minimum interference – maximum benefit” philosophy to VAR, which means it will only be used for clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents in four match-changing situations: goals, penalty decision, direct red-card incidents and mistaken identity.
It has been determined VAR reviews will only be communicated to fans in the stadium and on the TV match feed when there is a delay in play caused by VAR, or an overturned decision.
VAR will automatically check incidents relating to the four match-changing situations and the final decision will always be taken by the on-field referee.
Play will continue until the next stoppage, at which point the referee will stop the continuation of play until a decision has been reached.
VAR has been used with mixed success at Anfield during recent seasons. It proved controversial in the FA Cup defeat to West Bromwich Albion in January 2018 and the League Cup loss to Chelsea in September last year.
However, interruption was minimal during the Champions League knockout games against Bayern Munich, Porto and Barcelona last season.
