Is VAR turning football into a microscopic dissection, losing its soul? Uefa's top refereeing official is sounding the alarm, suggesting the technology meant to correct clear errors is now getting bogged down in the trivial.
Roberto Rosetti, Uefa's managing director for refereeing, has voiced serious concerns that Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) is becoming too 'microscopic', straying significantly from its original purpose. While VAR is a frequent topic of discussion, especially after recent high-profile controversies in leagues like the Premier League, Rosetti's comments aren't aimed at any single country but rather a broader trend.
He reminisced about the inception of VAR eight years ago, emphasizing its intended role: to correct 'clear mistakes' and handle 'factual' or 'objective' decisions. "In objective decisions, it is fantastic," Rosetti stated. However, he acknowledges that 'subjective evaluation is more difficult.' This is precisely why the focus was initially on 'clear and obvious mistakes' – situations with 'clear evidence.'
But here's where it gets controversial: Rosetti believes this focus has shifted. "We need to speak about this again in our meetings at the end of the season," he urged, adding, "We cannot go in this direction of microscopic VAR intervention. We love football like it is."
He specifically criticized the excessive use of super-slow-motion replays, likening it to a 1920s film-editing machine, the 'moviola.' "When you are watching the situation with the super-slow motion, you can find a lot of things," he explained, implying that these detailed examinations often highlight minor infractions that would be imperceptible and inconsequential during the natural flow of the game.
And this is the part most people miss: even in leagues with the lowest intervention rates, like the Premier League (0.15 per match for on-field reviews, 0.27 including factual reviews), there's still an accusation of overly pedantic use. Compare this to the Champions League's overall rate of 0.47.
Rosetti pointed a finger, not at the referees, but at the media's role in fueling this over-reliance. "You said this, not me," he remarked, suggesting that the constant questioning – "Where is VAR? Why doesn’t VAR intervene?" – has inadvertently pushed for more and more interventions. "But now we need to be careful about that," he cautioned.
Adding to the evolving landscape, the International Football Association Board (Ifab) recently backed plans for VAR to intervene on awarding corners and wrongly given second yellow cards. This, some might argue, further blurs the line between clear errors and subjective interpretations.
So, what do you think? Is VAR becoming an overzealous guardian of trivialities, detracting from the beautiful, fluid game we love? Or is this increased scrutiny necessary to ensure fairness, even in the smallest details? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
