Chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti has announced radical changes in the use of VAR to bring the technology back to its original purpose, intervening only in cases of clear and obvious errors.
UEFA has decided to put an end to the endless and often confusing VAR checks that have been frustrating football fans for years. UEFA's chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti was extremely direct in his assessment, admitting that some interventions have gone too far and "have nothing to do with football."
"We are aware that no one is currently satisfied with the impact of VAR on football. We want to avoid microscopic dissection of situations. This is football, not PlayStation," said Rosetti, announcing a new era in which on-field referees will again have the final say.
In response to growing dissatisfaction, UEFA has launched the "Clear Line" platform, designed as a public portal for fans, clubs, and players. Its purpose is to clearly and transparently explain when VAR should and should not get involved in the game. The platform will function as a digital library of video examples covering key situations such as penalties, red cards, and attacking fouls.
"The platform reaffirms one of the fundamental principles of the VAR protocol: video assistance should only be used in cases of clear and obvious errors. VAR does not referee the match. It is only there for clear situations and obvious errors," Rosetti told L'Equipe.
One of the biggest issues that has been exposed is the complete inconsistency of criteria across Europe, especially when it comes to handball decisions. Last season in the Premier League, a penalty for handball was awarded roughly once every 17.27 matches, while in the Champions League the same situation occurred almost once every seven matches. These figures clearly illustrate why players, coaches, and fans remain confused by different interpretations of the same rule.
The difference is also evident in the overall use of technology. The Premier League averaged 0.29 VAR interventions per match, the lowest rate in Europe, while the Champions League had a significantly higher 0.47 interventions per match. Rosetti warns that too many reviews encourage players to dive and simulate, further undermining the spirit of the game.
To prevent the "killing of the breath" of football and the loss of momentum, UEFA is also introducing a time limit. Any VAR check lasting longer than 90 seconds, according to Rosetti, begins to lose credibility with fans. Additionally, a new, more precise protocol has been defined for referees when they approach the pitchside monitor.
First, they will be shown a freeze-frame of the moment of contact, then a replay slowed to half speed, and finally a real-time replay. The goal is to preserve the context and intensity of the foul, not to dissect every contact in isolation. "We love referees with character who make decisions on the pitch. VAR should only get involved in clear and obvious errors. Normal speed matters, context matters. The game matters," Rosetti emphasized.
As a symbolic example of a situation for which VAR was originally intended, Rosetti cited Maradona's legendary "Hand of God" from 1986. The message is clear: technology should correct monumental mistakes, not turn football into a sterile video game. "We want to take a step back and put referees back in the spotlight," Rosetti concluded, confirming that UEFA wants referees with personality, with VAR only as occasional assistance.
These changes, agreed after a meeting with heads of refereeing organizations from England, Spain, Germany, France, and Italy, should bring much-needed consistency to European competitions. It remains to be seen whether the new winds from Nyon will also be felt in Croatian football, where fans have been hoping for a more consistent refereeing standard for years.
