UEFA to review VAR use at end of season, official says

UEFA’s head of refereeing, Roberto Rosetti, has warned that the use of video assistant referees (VAR) risks becoming “too forensic”, calling for greater consistency and fewer microscopic interventions in European football.

As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, speaking at the UEFA Congress on Thursday, Rosetti acknowledged that VAR works effectively for factual decisions such as offsides.

However, he said subjective calls, particularly around handball, are leading to excessive reviews.

“At the end of the season, we need to speak about this. “Because we cannot go in this direction of microscopic VAR interventions. We love football like it is,” Rosetti said.

The Premier League currently has the lowest VAR intervention rate among Europe’s top leagues this season at 0.27 per game, although controversy over decisions has persisted.

The Bundesliga and La Liga follow at 0.38, while Serie A stands at 0.44 and Ligue 1 at 0.47.

In the UEFA Champions League, the rate is similarly high at 0.45 per game.

Rosetti suggested growing pressure from fans and media — frequently questioning “Where is VAR?” — has contributed to the rise in interventions on subjective decisions.

“We cannot forget why it is in place,” he said. “It’s about justice. It’s good for fans, for everyone, because you want the right decisions on the pitch, especially when they’re clear.”

A major concern for UEFA is the lack of uniform interpretation of handball laws across domestic leagues. Rosetti stressed the need for European football to speak “only one technical language” on the issue, noting that differing standards create confusion, particularly for clubs competing in continental tournaments.

“We cannot speak different technical languages across Europe,” he said. “Only one uniformity and consistent interpretation. We are working for this.”

Rosetti also hinted at opposition to expanding VAR’s remit. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is expected to consider extending reviews to include corners and second yellow cards when it meets on 28 February.

“What is crucial is one concept — we cannot delay the restart of play,” Rosetti said. “Football is intensity, is emotions. It is not delaying the restart of play.”

At a recent meeting of Europe’s top referees, officials were instructed to pay closer attention to players going to ground too easily following minimal contact. Referees have also been asked to monitor blocking actions on goalkeepers during corners when it clearly prevents them from playing the ball.

Rosetti additionally expressed reservations about a proposed offside rule change championed by former Arsène Wenger, which would require clear daylight between attacker and defender. He warned the proposal could create a “big space” for attackers and significantly affect tactics.

Subject to approval by IFAB, the proposal is expected to be trialled in the Canadian Premier League from April.

With debates intensifying around technology’s role in football, Uefa is set to review VAR usage at the end of the season in a bid to preserve both accuracy and the flow of the game.

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