UEFA’s head of refereeing, Roberto Rosetti, has warned that the leverage of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology has become overly focused on minute details, potentially undermining its original purpose. Rosetti’s assessment, delivered at the UEFA Congress on Thursday, February 13, 2026, comes as European football authorities grapple with ongoing controversy surrounding VAR interventions.
The former Serie A referee, who has overseen officiating in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League since 2018, stated that the initial intention of VAR – to correct “clear and obvious errors” – has been lost. He expressed concern that reviews are now delving into “microscopic” scrutiny, referencing a historical film editing machine, known as a moviola, to illustrate the level of detail being examined. “When you are watching the situation with the super slow motion, you can find a lot of things,” Rosetti said, according to reports.
Rosetti’s critique centers on the technology’s effectiveness in subjective situations. While acknowledging VAR’s success in factual decisions, such as offsides, he believes its application to matters of interpretation is leading to excessive interventions. He indicated a need for discussion among officials at the complete of the current season to recalibrate the approach to VAR, emphasizing a desire to avoid a trend of “microscopic VAR intervention.”
The concerns extend to the interpretation of handball rules, which Rosetti identified as requiring a “consistent interpretation” across European leagues. He noted the wide variation in approaches, with the Premier League adopting a more lenient stance than other top divisions. “We cannot speak different technical languages across Europe,” he stated, adding that a unified approach is crucial given the participation of teams in cross-border competitions.
Data presented alongside Rosetti’s comments reveals significant differences in VAR intervention rates across Europe’s top leagues. The Premier League currently has the lowest rate, at 0.27 interventions per game, while the Champions League sees a higher ratio of 0.45. Other leagues, including the Bundesliga (0.38), La Liga (0.38), and Serie A (0.44), fall between these figures. Despite the lower intervention rate, the Premier League has not been immune to controversy surrounding VAR decisions.
Rosetti hinted at a reluctance to broaden the scope of VAR, suggesting a preference for maintaining its focus on clear and obvious errors. He emphasized that the technology is intended to ensure “justice” and provide “the right decisions on the pitch, especially when they’re clear,” but cautioned against overreach.
UEFA has not announced a specific timeline for the planned discussions regarding VAR’s future, but Rosetti indicated that the matter will be addressed in meetings following the conclusion of the current season. The outcome of these discussions could significantly impact the application of VAR in European competitions moving forward.
