Roberto Rosetti, Uefa's referees' chief, has expressed concerns that some video assistant referee reviews are not in line with the sport, stating "it's football, not PlayStation". This comes after a meeting with leaders from top European leagues, where they discussed the need for a more uniform approach to Var decisions.
Rosetti launched Clear Line, a portal that aims to clarify when a Var should intervene, in an effort to address the inconsistencies. The Premier League had the lowest rate of Var interventions in Europe last season, with 0.29 per game, while the Champions League had a significantly higher rate of 0.47 per game.
Rosetti conceded that finding a consistent approach across all leagues would be challenging, particularly with regards to handball, which continues to be a point of contention.
The Premier League had the most relaxed interpretation of handball last season, with a penalty awarded every 17.27 games, compared to the Champions League, which awarded a penalty every seven games.
Uefa has uploaded video examples of handball situations to Clear Line, in an effort to explain what constitutes an offence. Rosetti emphasized the importance of context, stating "the referee must referee the match", and that Var should only intervene in clear and obvious situations.
The time taken for Var reviews is also a concern, with Rosetti stating that any check longer than 90 seconds risks "losing credibility". A new protocol has been agreed upon, whereby referees will be shown a freeze-frame, followed by half-speed, and then full-speed footage, in an effort to streamline the review process.
Rosetti described Clear Line as "a guide for all the people of football", providing a detailed explanation of when and how Var will intervene, with the aim of promoting greater understanding and consistency.
Rosetti's comments reflect a desire to return to the original purpose of Var, which was to correct clear and obvious errors, rather than to scrutinize every decision. He referenced incidents like Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal, which highlighted the need for Var.
However, Rosetti also acknowledged that the increased use of Var has led to attempts by players to manipulate the system, and that referees need to be careful not to overuse it. With the launch of Clear Line, Uefa aims to promote greater transparency and consistency in Var decisions, and to provide a clearer understanding of the rules for fans and players alike.
