The Premier League have addressed a survey revealing that the vast majority of supporters oppose the use of VAR (video assistant referee). The technology was implemented in 2019 and has remained a major discussion point for supporters and pundits alike.

In a survey of just under 8,000 supporters by the Football Supporters' Association (FSA), it emerged that 75 per cent do not back the use of VAR. 90 per cent also disagreed that its implementation has improved the matchday experience.

In response, the Premier League have highlighted their own survey findings and statistics demonstrating the beneficial impact that VAR has delivered to the game. In a statement, they said: "We recognise the importance of minimising the impact of VAR on the supporter experience.

"As part of ongoing dialogue with supporters, Premier League research indicates fans are largely in favour of keeping VAR, but improving the way it is used."

They added: "VAR delivers more correct decisions. In recent seasons, there have been around 100 correct VAR overturns per season - instances where goals would otherwise have been incorrectly awarded or disallowed, or red cards or penalties missed or wrongly given.

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"The league applies a high threshold for VAR intervention, with the referee's call taking precedence. As a result, VAR is less intrusive in the Premier League than in other European leagues, including the Champions League, where VAR intervenes almost twice as often."

Since its inception in the Premier League, VAR has seen several modifications, including the introduction of semi-automated offside technology. This season has seen the introduction of on-pitch referee announcements after subjective decisions.

Despite these adjustments, surveyed supporters continue to express their opposition to the system. Speaking to BBC Sport, FSA Premier League network manager Thomas Concannon said: "The results show that most fans want VAR removed.

"We've all lived with VAR for so long now that we've seen the negative impact it's had on the game. People are annoyed about the time that it takes, annoyed about the accuracy, and annoyed about the [impact on] spontaneity.

"It does take away from what football is meant to be and what those special moments are about." It was recently revealed that officiating errors both on the pitch and via VAR have increased across the majority of categories in the current Premier League season.

BBC Sport relayed figures from the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel last week, which declared another four errors by referees in its latest report. That took the total for this season to 54 - at the same stage last season, that number was 44.