ALBION are expected to back plans to bring VAR to the Premier League for the start of next season.

But the club will NOT be appealing against a red card shown to Dale Stephens at Cardiff City.

Stephens will serve a three-match ban after being sent off on a Prem weekend marked by some high profile refereeing decisions.

Top-flight clubs meet in central London on Thursday with the introduction of video referees, as used in other top leagues such as Serie A and LaLiga Santander, likely to come up for debate.

The Argus understands senior figures at Albion are in favour of VAR being introduced for the start of next season.

That view will have been reinforced by events at the Cardiff City Stadium which saw Sol Bamba’s ‘offside’ goal allowed to stand and, more comically. the scorer escape a yellow card after removing his shirt.

Albion will have offered feedback on the performance of referee Martin Atkinson and his colleagues, as is standard procedure.

Their comments are unlikely to have been favourable.

At the same time, Albion are sympathetic to the task facing referees in the heat of Premier League battle, while mindful VAR is currently not a perfect system.

Top-tier clubs were due to vote in February over whether their refs should receive video help from next term.

But that decision – if not the launch of the system itself – could now be brought forward after a series of recent errors.

VAR was introduced in Italy and Germany last season and the Spanish have now followed suit.

High-profile games including Milan versus Juventus and Barcelona’s shock home defeat to Real Betis on Sunday both featured decisions corrected with the help of the video assistant.

Albion felt the red shown to Stephens for his challenge on Greg Cunningham was harsh, especially in comparison to other decisions over the Premier League weekend.

But it was borderline enough for them to opt not to contest the decision.

Stephens misses the visit of Leicester City, a trip to Huddersfield and the derby against Crystal Palace at the Amex.

He could return at Burnley on December 8.