“Capello accuses referees of being ‘a bad MAFIA’ and suggests improvements for VAR.”

Fabio Capello, one of the most iconic figures in world football, does not hold back in criticizing contemporary refereeing, calling referees “a mafia” and proposing a bold solution to improve VAR. In a revealing interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca, the former coach of giants such as Milan, Real Madrid, Roma, and Juventus vented his frustration with the current quality of officiating, particularly regarding decisions made through the video assistant referee.

“Let it go, let it go, it’s a topic that makes me very angry,” Capello began, expressing his indignation. His incisive criticism spared no referees, who, according to him, stray from the reality of the game by not including former players in VAR analyses. “Referees are a mafia. They don’t want former players involved in VAR, those who understand football movements, those movements that players make to stop, to help each other, etc. Often, they make incorrect decisions because they have never played and do not recognize those movements.”

Capello was particularly sharp in pointing out flaws in decisions that may seem trivial at first glance. “A player is touched on the face, goes down, and they blow the whistle. But why blow the whistle? If I’m 1.90m tall and the other player is 1.75m, my arm is at his face level. Why would they blow the whistle? That drives me crazy. Crazy.” These words reflect not only his frustration but also a call to action for change.

Capello’s proposal to “fix” VAR is clear: include a former player in the VAR control room. “Put a (former player) in there, telling the referee: ‘Well, I don’t think that’s a penalty,’ or ‘I think it is.’ With UEFA, we analyzed 20 situations in which penalties were awarded. When reviewed by former players and coaches, six of them were considered penalties and 14 were not.” This deep and pragmatic analysis suggests that including someone with direct experience on the field could dramatically change how decisions are made.

Capello’s criticism is a call for football authorities to reconsider how decisions are made in major competitions, and whether the practical experience of players could be a valuable asset in the pursuit of fairer and more accurate officiating. His voice resonates at a time when technology, although innovative, still faces significant challenges in its implementation in the world’s most beloved sport.