It’s football, not PlayStation – Uefa refs’ chief on VAR

Uefa's referees chief Roberto Rosetti stated that some video assistant referee (VAR) reviews were not solely related to football during a meeting with leaders from top European leagues. The leaders, including those from England, Spain, Germany, France, and Italy, gathered to discuss finding a more unified approach to VAR decisions.

Rosetti emphasized that VAR should not disrupt the essence of football and should be used for clear and obvious situations only. He highlighted the importance of context and normal speed in VAR reviews, as lengthy reviews with multiple replays could negatively impact player behavior and the overall credibility of the game. Rosetti also pointed out that handball continues to be a contentious issue across different leagues, with varying interpretations leading to inconsistent applications.

To address this, Uefa has launched Clear Line, a portal designed to provide fans with a better understanding of when VAR should and should not intervene. The portal contains video examples of handball situations, explaining the specific criteria for an offensive foul. Rosetti's goal is to bring back the focus on on-field referees and ensure that VAR is utilized only for clear situations.