Is VAR Ruining the Beautiful Game? Uefa’s Refereeing Chief Sounds the Alarm
Football’s beloved flow and spontaneity are under threat, warns Roberto Rosetti, Uefa’s managing director for refereeing. The issue? Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) is becoming too precise, veering dangerously close to micromanaging the sport. But here’s where it gets controversial: while VAR was introduced to correct clear and obvious errors, Rosetti argues it’s now being used to scrutinize every minor detail, often in slow motion, turning the beautiful game into a forensic analysis.
VAR has been a hot topic lately, especially after several high-profile incidents in the Premier League left fans, players, and pundits divided. While Rosetti clarifies he’s not singling out England’s implementation, he believes the technology’s overuse is a widespread problem. And this is the part most people miss: VAR was never meant to replace human judgment but to support it in clear-cut cases. Yet, it’s increasingly being used for subjective calls, where even the slightest contact can look like a foul in slow motion.
“Eight years ago, when we first discussed VAR, the focus was on correcting undeniable mistakes—those factual, objective errors,” Rosetti explained. “But now, we’re diving into subjective evaluations, and that’s where we’re losing our way. We need to revisit this at the end of the season. Football’s essence is at stake.”
Rosetti takes aim at the overuse of slow-motion replays, which he calls moviola—a term harking back to early film-editing machines. “In super-slow motion, you can find faults in almost every play,” he notes. “But does that mean every minor contact deserves a penalty? That’s not the football we love.”
The Premier League’s VAR intervention rate is the lowest in Europe, at 0.15 per match for on-field reviews (0.27 including factual reviews). Yet, it’s often criticized for being overly pedantic. In contrast, the Champions League sees a rate of 0.47, raising questions about consistency across competitions. But here’s the kicker: Rosetti points a finger at the media, suggesting their constant demands for VAR intervention have fueled its overuse. “You’ve asked, ‘Where is VAR? Why isn’t it being used?’” he said. “Now, we’re paying the price for that pressure.”
Adding fuel to the fire, the International Football Association Board (Ifab) recently approved VAR’s use for corner awards and wrongly given second yellow cards. While some see this as a step toward fairness, others worry it’s another example of overreach. Is VAR enhancing the game or killing its spirit? Weigh in below—this debate is far from over.
