Orsato implements new refereeing direction in Italy

Daniele Orsato, the refereeing designator for the CAN, has outlined a new strategic direction for officiating in Italian football. The goal is to restore the central role of the on-field referee by reducing the systematic reliance on VAR technology.

Orsato emphasized that while technology will continue to be used to correct clear and obvious errors, it should serve as a support rather than a substitute for the referee's on-field decisions. This approach aims to prevent the game from being dominated by technological interventions and to ensure more consistent decision-making.

Former Serie A referee Giampaolo Calvarese noted that this shift aligns with UEFA directives. He observed that the new course returns the “honors and burdens” of decision-making to the referees, though he cautioned that this increases the technical and psychological pressure on officials to perform accurately under stress.