Feb 14 • 03:16 UTC 🇶🇦 Qatar Al Jazeera

UEFA referee chief warns against overusing VAR

The head of UEFA's refereeing committee has expressed concerns over the excessive use of VAR in football, noting its negative impact on match decisions and viewer experience.

Roberto Rosetti, the head of the referees' committee for UEFA, has raised alarms about the over-reliance on Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in football. He points out that while VAR was introduced to correct clear errors in officiating, it has led to frustration among fans due to the frequent revisiting of decisions. Rosetti emphasizes that the original intent of VAR has been somewhat forgotten as the complexities of subjective decisions have become more pronounced. He suggests that clear errors were the initial focus, but current practices may be straying from this principle.

Furthermore, Rosetti refrained from criticizing any specific tournament but voiced general concerns about the increasing crises surrounding VAR's implementation. He recalled his early discussions about VAR and its purpose, highlighting that it was meant to enhance fairness in game decision-making rather than complicate it. Rosetti indicated the necessity for discussions at the end of the season, hinting at a collective need among football stakeholders to rethink how VAR is utilized without compromising the essence of the game.

The debate around VAR signifies a larger conversation in football about technology's role in sports and the balance between accuracy and the natural flow of the game. As the football community grapples with fans' frustrations and the stress on referees created by VAR interventions, it remains to be seen how UEFA will address these challenges going forward and whether reforms will be enacted to maintain the integrity and enjoyment of the sport.

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