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UEFA refereeing chief Roberto Rosetti says VAR reviews must focus on clear and obvious errors.
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Rosetti warned that lengthy and overly detailed reviews are damaging the credibility of the technology.
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A new UEFA portal, Clear Line, has been launched to help fans understand when VAR should intervene.
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The Premier League recorded the lowest VAR intervention rate among Europe’s major competitions last season.
August 11, (THEWILL) — UEFA refereeing chief Roberto Rosetti has called for a more restrained approach to the use of video assistant referee technology, warning officials against becoming too focused on microscopic details and reminding them that football should remain at the centre of every decision.
Rosetti made the comments while launching Clear Line, a new UEFA platform designed to help clubs, players and supporters understand when VAR should and should not intervene. The initiative follows discussions between refereeing chiefs from England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy, alongside former referee and IFAB technical director David Elleray, in an attempt to create a more consistent approach across Europe’s major leagues.
“We realise that everywhere now there is not any satisfaction about how VAR is impacting football”, Rosetti said. He stressed that referees should remain responsible for managing matches, with VAR primarily reserved for clear and obvious mistakes rather than incidents that require extensive examination.
‘FOOTBALL, NOT PLAYSTATION’
Rosetti acknowledged that there are significant differences in how certain incidents are interpreted across domestic competitions, particularly handball decisions. He argued that context and the natural speed of the game should remain important factors when officials review incidents.
“It’s football, not PlayStation”, Rosetti said, insisting that referees and VAR officials must avoid becoming obsessed with microscopic details that may have little relevance to the actual flow of a match.
The issue is particularly evident in handball decisions, where the frequency of penalties differs considerably between Europe’s leading leagues. The Premier League recorded one handball penalty every 17.27 matches last season, compared with one every 10.93 matches in Germany, 10.56 in Spain, 10 in Italy and 9.27 in France.
The Champions League recorded an even higher frequency, with a handball penalty occurring approximately once every seven matches, highlighting the difficulty of achieving a completely uniform interpretation of the laws.
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UEFA TARGETS LONG VAR REVIEWS
Rosetti also expressed concern about the amount of time being spent on VAR reviews, particularly when referees are shown numerous replays from different angles before making a decision.
According to the UEFA refereeing chief, reviews lasting more than 90 seconds risk undermining supporters’ confidence in the technology. He said a new protocol would encourage officials conducting on-field reviews to assess incidents through a more structured sequence.
Under the approach, referees would first be shown a freeze-frame highlighting the point of contact, followed by footage at half speed and then at normal speed to assess the intensity and context of an incident.
The objective is to prevent VAR from turning every questionable moment into a lengthy forensic investigation and instead return decision-making authority to referees on the pitch.
‘PUT REFEREES BACK AT THE CENTRE’
Rosetti said the excessive use of VAR can also influence player behaviour, with some players increasingly attempting to win decisions by exaggerating incidents or deliberately creating situations that could trigger a review.
He wants football to return to the original purpose of VAR: correcting major mistakes rather than replacing the referee’s judgement.
“We like referees with personality, taking decisions on the pitch, and VAR intervening only for clear and obvious situations”, Rosetti said.
The UEFA official also pointed to Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal against England at the 1986 World Cup as an example of the type of obvious incident VAR was originally intended to address.
READ ALSO: UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC Accuse FIFA of ‘Breach of Trust’ Over World Cup Plan
CLEAR LINE LAUNCHED FOR FANS
UEFA’s new Clear Line platform contains video examples covering the main areas in which VAR can intervene, including penalties, red cards, attacking offences, factual decisions and mistaken identity.
Rather than being designed exclusively for referees, the platform is intended to give supporters and clubs a better understanding of why particular decisions are or are not reviewed.
Rosetti described it as a guide for everyone involved in football, allowing fans to compare controversial incidents from Champions League matches with examples contained in UEFA’s library.
The initiative comes as football continues to debate the effectiveness of VAR, with supporters across Europe increasingly questioning lengthy reviews and inconsistent interpretations. UEFA now hopes that a clearer framework will reduce unnecessary interventions while restoring greater authority and personality to referees on the pitch.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
