“Football should avoid ‘microscopic’ VAR, warns UEFA referees chief.”

The growing controversy surrounding VAR in European football has reached new proportions, and UEFA’s chief refereeing officer, Roberto Rosetti, did not hesitate to express his concerns. During the UEFA Congress held on Thursday, Rosetti stated that the video assistant review (VAR) system is becoming “too forensic,” a worrying sign for the future of the sport. Highlighting the need for “consistent interpretation” regarding handball situations, Rosetti pointed out that while the technology is effective in factual decisions such as offside, it is causing an excessive number of interventions in subjective situations.

The Premier League, known for its dynamic style of play, has the lowest rate of VAR interventions among the major European leagues this season, with only 0.27 per game. However, this decrease in reviews has not resulted in fewer controversies, a reality that raises even more debate. The German and Spanish leagues follow with rates of 0.38 and Serie A at 0.44, while Ligue 1 is slightly higher, at 0.47. In the context of the Champions League, the frequency of VAR interventions also remains high, with an average of 0.45.

“It is essential that we discuss this at the end of the season,” Rosetti stated. “We cannot move towards microscopic VAR interventions. We love football as it is.” The head of referees emphasized that the increasing pressure from fans and the media for VAR to intervene in a growing number of subjective decisions is part of the problem. “We cannot forget why VAR was implemented,” he argued, adding that it is about fairness in the game.

Rosetti also addressed the need for a single “technical language” regarding handball criteria, an aspect that varies widely between leagues. The Premier League, for example, adopts a more permissive approach. “We cannot have different technical languages across Europe,” he stated. “This is not good, especially because teams compete in European competitions. We need uniformity in interpretation.”

Furthermore, Rosetti expressed his opposition to expanding the scope of VAR. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is set to approve the review of corner kicks and second yellow cards at its meeting scheduled for February 28. “What is crucial is one concept: we cannot delay the restart of the game,” he emphasized. “If something is implemented to delay the restart, that is not good for football.”

He also emphasized the importance of preventing players from easily falling after minimal contact, a concern that was discussed in a recent meeting among Europe’s top referees. Another point raised was the need to monitor blocking actions that prevent goalkeepers from playing the ball during corner kicks.

Finally, Rosetti expressed reservations about the proposal from Arsène Wenger, former Arsenal manager, which suggests a change to the offside rule that would require a visible gap between the attacker and the defender. The implementation of this idea could create a “large space” for the attacker, impacting the tactical aspect of the game. The proposal is set to be tested in the Canadian Premier League starting in April, pending approval at the IFAB meeting.

With strong statements and a clear vision for the future of VAR, Rosetti makes a call for unity and clarity in the decisions that shape European football. Time will tell if these concerns will be heard and if significant changes will occur before the next season.