Premier League to Explain VAR Decisions on Social Media During Matches 

Liverpool's Conor Bradley, front, controls the ball during the English League Cup final soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool in London, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP)
Liverpool's Conor Bradley, front, controls the ball during the English League Cup final soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool in London, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP)
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Premier League to Explain VAR Decisions on Social Media During Matches 

Liverpool's Conor Bradley, front, controls the ball during the English League Cup final soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool in London, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP)
Liverpool's Conor Bradley, front, controls the ball during the English League Cup final soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool in London, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP)

The Premier League hopes to reduce frustration with the VAR system with the launch of a social media account that will provide near real-time updates and explanations regarding officiating and operational decisions for every match.

Teams voted in favor of keeping VAR in June despite huge amounts of criticism about the technology-aided officiating system last season, with Wolverhampton Wanderers initiating a petition to scrap it.

"In the absence of live VAR audio being broadcast, as it is not permitted in football, the Premier League Match Centre will be able to relay on social media near-live information from the VAR Hub during a game," the league said in a statement on Tuesday.

In addition to posting refereeing decisions, the X account, @PLMatchCentre, will also provide insights directly from the VAR hub and refereeing experts with the aim of bringing transparency, the league said.

Experts from PGMOL, the league’s officiating body, will also clarify the laws of the game and provide additional information and updates on the VAR decision-making processes when necessary.



Imane Khelif, Kaylia Nemour Return from Olympics to Warm Welcome in Algeria

Gold medalist in the the women's 66 kg boxing Algeria's Imane Khelif, left, French-Algerian gymnast gold medalist in the uneven bars Kaylia Nemour show their medals after the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, at Algiers airport, Algeria. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul)
Gold medalist in the the women's 66 kg boxing Algeria's Imane Khelif, left, French-Algerian gymnast gold medalist in the uneven bars Kaylia Nemour show their medals after the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, at Algiers airport, Algeria. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul)
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Imane Khelif, Kaylia Nemour Return from Olympics to Warm Welcome in Algeria

Gold medalist in the the women's 66 kg boxing Algeria's Imane Khelif, left, French-Algerian gymnast gold medalist in the uneven bars Kaylia Nemour show their medals after the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, at Algiers airport, Algeria. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul)
Gold medalist in the the women's 66 kg boxing Algeria's Imane Khelif, left, French-Algerian gymnast gold medalist in the uneven bars Kaylia Nemour show their medals after the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, at Algiers airport, Algeria. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul)

Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif returned home to a warm welcome Monday as Algerians rallied around her in the face of international scrutiny and misconceptions about her sex.

The Algerian gold medalist in women's welterweight boxing flew back to the gas-rich North African nation's capital Monday afternoon along with other Olympic medalists, including gymnast Kaylia Nemour and runner Djamel Sedjati, The AP reported.

They were greeted in Algiers by Minister of Youth and Sports Abderrahmane Hammad and were scheduled to meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune later this week, according to APS, the nation's public press service.

“It's a dream I had for eight years,” Khelif said of her gold medal performance. “We did our best to represent Algeria.”

Khelif became a top storyline of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew 46 seconds into their matchup, wept and refused to shake Khelif's hand, saying she had never been hit so hard by a punch. Afterward, scrutiny toward Khelif exploded as people — including world leaders and celebrities — questioned her eligibility or falsely claimed she was a man.

Algerians vigorously defended Khelif amid uninformed speculation about her sex, which they interpreted as a byproduct of racism. They loudly made their presence known both in Paris and Algeria, where the gold medal fight was broadcast in public squares throughout the country.

Sedjati, the bronze medalist in the men's 800 meters, said Nemour and Khelif's success would “give a boost to women's sports in our country.”