Aston Villa and Derby County won’t benefit from the use of VAR in the Championship play-off final after it was confirmed the technology won’t be in use.
Despite an estimated £180m windfall being at stake, the English Football League have deemed the technology won’t be in operation at Wembley on May 27th.
The decision has been taken because VAR has not been used throughout the Championship season, with the EFL deciding its use would provide an ‘unfair advantage’.
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Goal-line technology will be in use as standard, but the EFL have decided to stay consistent, after refusing the use of VAR for the Checkatrade Trophy final between Portsmouth and Sunderland in March for the same reasons.
Aston Villa reached this same stage last season; a game that was marred in controversy after Ryan Frederick’s stamp on Jack Grealish was missed by the officials before Fulham went on to win the game 1-0.
Had VAR been in operation, the now West Ham defender would have been dismissed, leaving Steve Bruce’s side to play against ten men for the majority of the match.
The technology has been deployed on a trial basis in some Carabao Cup and FA Cup matches this season, ahead of its impending introduction to the Premier League next campaign.
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It’s a move that has been highly praised by a number of coaches, not least Neil Warnock, who won’t be in the division to benefit from the technology following Cardiff City’s relegation.
Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and a host of high-profile managers have all issued their support for VAR in English football.
