UEFA's Roberto Rosetti criticizes excessive VAR use

UEFA refereeing chief Roberto Rosetti has criticized the excessive and over-technical use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, stating, “This is football, not PlayStation!” Following meetings with leaders of major European leagues, Rosetti expressed concern that VAR is being used to scrutinize “microscopic” incidents that do not align with the natural flow of the game.

To address public frustration and inconsistency, UEFA has launched Clear Line, a new educational portal. The platform provides video examples to help fans, players, and clubs understand when VAR should and should not intervene in decisions such as penalties, red cards, and attacking offenses.

Rosetti also highlighted the need for faster reviews, warning that any check exceeding 90 seconds risks undermining the credibility of officials. He emphasized that the technology should return to its original purpose: correcting clear and obvious errors rather than searching for minor technicalities. Data shows significant disparities in application across competitions; for instance, the Champions League recorded a higher frequency of handball penalties compared to the Premier League.