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It's football, not PlayStation - Uefa refs' chief on VAR

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It's football, not PlayStation - Uefa refs' chief on VAR
Image · BBC Sport Football

What the report says

Uefa referees’ chief Roberto Rosetti has said some video assistant referee checks have drifted away from the spirit of football, as the governing body tries to push for a more uniform approach across Europe. Speaking after a meeting with refereeing leaders from the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1, Rosetti said the aim is to limit VAR to clear and obvious situations rather than minute, heavily replayed incidents.

Rosetti was launching Clear Line, a new Uefa portal designed to help fans, clubs and players understand when VAR should intervene. The site includes video examples across key categories such as penalties, red cards, attacking offences, factual decisions and mistaken identity. Uefa says the resource is intended to explain decisions more clearly and improve consistency across competitions.

The article notes that agreement is difficult because leagues still interpret some rules differently, especially handball. It also says the Premier League had the lowest VAR intervention rate in Europe last season, while the Champions League used VAR more often. Rosetti argued that lengthy reviews and repeated replays can harm the game’s flow and confidence in officials, and that referees should remain central to decision-making.

More broadly, the Uefa position reflects an ongoing debate in football about how much technology should shape matches and where the line should be drawn between accuracy and disruption.

Read the full report at BBC Sport Football →

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