The Premier League is set to reveal unseen referee footage and exclusive audio during VAR incidents in a brand-new TV show covering the weekly football fixtures.
With coaches, players, and fans alike all crying-out for better transparency and communication when it comes to refereeing decisions – especially during controversial VAR moments that still seem to happen week in, week out – this regular broadcast will aim to address that issue.
Set up by the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) and the Premier League, the new show entitled, Match Officials: Mic’d Up, will share never-before-seen or heard video and audio clips from various fixtures, explaining how referees came to their decisions.
Due to be broadcast across both Sky Sports and TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport), the show will feature former referee Howard Webb and ex-professional Michael Owen – who will discuss top-flight games and how they were officiated.
🚨EXCL: This Wednesday at 8pm PGMOL will release previously un-released audio from the on-field officials and VAR teams to explain refereeing decisions. The show will still be called “Match Officials Mic'd Up” and can be seen on Sky Sports Premier League pic.twitter.com/evLwfKcAqB
The Premier League’s new VAR show will provide greater insight by sharing exclusive match audio and unseen footage.
With the first episode of the new programme set to air this Wednesday (6 September) on Sky at 8pm, there is currently no confirmation as to what ‘controversial’ incidents will be examined, but many will be expecting to see why Manchester City’s second goal wasn’t ruled offside and why Manchester United’s was this past weekend.
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This comes after a hugely-popular and successful trial and guest appearance by chief refereeing officer back in May – with Webb appearing on a special edition of Monday Night Football and giving an eye-opening look at how VAR decisions are made during games.
VAR itself isn’t present at individual games, and adjudication is carried out from a central hub at Stockley Park in West London.
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As such, communication between those in the booth, and on-pitch officials during Premier League fixtures, has always been a point of interest for fans and professionals alike.
Although the show is set to be rolled out on a monthly basis at first, depending on its reception and whether it provides the level of clarification people want, it could become a more frequent occurrence. Nevertheless, countless fans are still asking for live audio and explanations from refs on-field as VAR decisions are being made, which we already saw work successfully at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Featured Image – Sky Sports/Michael Owen (via Instagram)
Sport
Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
Sport
Manchester City release limited-edition Blossoms shirts exclusively in new flagship store
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City have released a limited run of special Blossoms shirts, which will be available exclusively at the new flagship City Store.
Etihad Airways has donated the front-of-shirt space for the special drop, which celebrates the Stockport band’s lifelong support of Man City and will fundraise forCity in the Community’s 40th anniversary.
The Manchester City x Blossoms collab features the band’s logo across the chest of the 2024/25 season’s away shirt – one of the Club’s most popular designs in recent years.
Profits from sales of the shirts will be donated to CITC to support its 40th anniversary fundraising, which empower healthier lives with city youth through football.
Blossoms have just secured their fifth UK number one album with their latest release, ‘Songs From The Wedding Cake’, and will soon be heading on an arena tour that includes two massive shows at the Co-op Live.
There’s a very limited run of the Man City Blossoms shirts, available in sizes small to large, which will exclusively be sold at the new flagship CityStore.
The shirts have dropped in-store this morning, with further drops to be released around the band’s tour dates this November and December.
As for that new City store – it’s a whopping 21,000 sq ft, three-floor space at Medlock Square, right beside the Etihad Stadium, and is the biggest shop in the club’s history.
The new flagship has opened today in collaboration with PUMA and Stichd, and features a new, interactive ‘Make It Yours’ customisation station as well as an expanded range of Manchester City products.
Danny Jones -
5th September 2023 
