Premier League solution to 'armpit' offsides?

Executives of English football top-flight, triggered with marginal decisions which proved deeply unpopular with fans, made a change in the VAR protocol.

Premier League clubs and referees anticipate that the use of thicker lines by the video assistant referee will have a drastic impact on matches after many this season were frustrated by attackers being ruled offside due to their armpits, heels and toes.

As reported by The Times, the system using thicker lines is already in operation in other UEFA competitions and the Dutch Eredivisie.

Under new protocols, those body parts being narrowly beyond the defender are no longer likely to result in penalisation.

Also, its introduction in the Premier League means television viewers and broadcasters will no longer see the process of the offside lines being drawn, just the final result.

England's top tier 20 clubs agreed to the VAR change during their annual general meeting on Thursday.

With the participating clubs, referee chiefs were also involved in the process - they are investigating additional ways of increasing the threshold for what warrants a penalty.

The 20 sides were informed of plans to introduce automated offside technology, although this is believed to be at least two years away from being ready for use. In the meantime, Premier League clubs decided to use thicker lines.

Managers, captains and sporting directors were involved in the survey process, while fans' views on VAR will also play a part in future changes.

For two seasons now, VAR has been in force in the Premier League. It faced sustained criticism despite a change made last August allowing referees to consult pitchside monitors for subjective decisions.