Radical reforms. UEFA referees committee chief announces changes to VAR operations
A turbulent week for Spanish refereeing has once again thrust VAR into the spotlight. Controversial incidents and debatable decisions intensified the pressure on both the main referee and the video assistants during the Copa del Rey clash between Atletico and Barcelona.
According to Sport, amid mounting disputes, UEFA referees committee chief Roberto Rosetti made a statement during the UEFA congress in Brussels. He emphasized that VAR should not become a tool for dissecting 'microscopic details,' but confirmed that the system's operation will be reviewed at the end of the season.
Among the potential innovations that IFAB may approve on February 28 is the expansion of VAR's powers—specifically, the possibility of intervening in corner kick decisions and reviewing yellow cards.
Rosetti also stressed that any changes must help speed up the game, not slow it down. In his words, football is valued for its intensity and emotion, not for lengthy stoppages, so any system adjustments must preserve the match's dynamic flow.
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
