Premier League to publish weekly VAR verdicts and referee audio in transparency overhaul

The Premier League will begin publishing weekly reports from its independent Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel this season, alongside direct VAR audio and referee body-camera clips, in the most significant transparency push the division has made around match officiating.

Established during the 2022-23 season, the five-member KMI Panel assesses and votes on all significant refereeing judgments across the top flight. Until last season, those verdicts were shared only with clubs and referees; from now on they will be released publicly each week. The league said the move is designed to guarantee “full transparency around the evaluations of the decisions made by match officials.”

The panel is made up of three former players or coaches alongside one representative each from the Premier League and professional referees’ body Pro Ref. It reviews critical incidents — penalties, red cards, offside calls and other situations under the referee’s jurisdiction — and rules each decision correct or incorrect.

The second change concerns communication between the pitch referee and the VAR. Direct quotes exchanged during major incidents will now be published on the Premier League Match Centre social media account, supplemented by in-game audio from referee body cameras during selected fixtures. The league added that it will “continue to lobby football’s lawmakers IFAB to allow more communications from the Match Officials to be broadcast in-game.”

The third change expands the existing Ref Cam programme. Last season, in-game video clips from the referee’s body camera were made available; that has now been extended to include audio. The league confirmed the audio will only be used in the one or two Ref Cam games per match round and only for selected incidents, with live VAR audio remaining off-limits under IFAB regulations.

The 2025-26 Premier League season opens on Friday, with defending champions Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City.