Rome, 28 July (LaPresse) – Refereeing officials from all 55 European national football associations took part in an online meeting with UEFA refereeing officials. The agenda for the meeting, which was also attended by a representative from IFAB, focused primarily on the recently introduced changes to the Laws of the Game, with the aim of promoting greater consistency in their interpretation and application in national and continental competitions. “The fact that all 55 national associations and UEFA have agreed on guidelines for a more uniform approach to the application of the Laws of the Game represents a significant milestone,” said the meeting’s chair, Roberto Rosetti, UEFA’s director of refereeing. Unanimous support was expressed for the IFAB amendments for the 2026/27 season. This package of measures effectively addresses situations where time is wasted (goal kicks, throw-ins, substitutions and injuries), thereby ensuring more actual playing time. Referees will be required to apply the new rules rigorously and consistently. Participants also agreed on the need to adopt a more uniform approach to the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). More generally, it was reiterated that, in line with the protocol, the VAR must intervene only in the event of a ‘clear and obvious’ error, i.e. when a referee’s decision is manifestly incorrect or when the referee has failed to spot an obvious incident. VAR is not designed to ‘referee the match’, but to provide essential support to referees, who must remain at the centre of every decision-making process. Lengthy and extremely detailed reviews are often a sign that the decision taken on the pitch was not clearly and obviously incorrect and, therefore, should be kept to a minimum.
UEFA aligns itself with refereeing guidelines: “VAR should be a support, not a referee”
Rome, 28 July (LaPresse) – Refereeing officials from all 55 European national football associations took part in an online meeting with UEFA refereeing officials. The agenda for the meeting, which was also attended by a representative from IFAB, focused primarily on the recently introduced changes to the Laws of the Game, with the aim of promoting greater consistency in their interpretation and application in national and continental competitions. “The fact that all 55 national associations and UEFA have agreed on guidelines for a more uniform approach to the application of the Laws of the Game represents a significant milestone,” said the meeting’s chair, Roberto Rosetti, UEFA’s director of refereeing. Unanimous support was expressed for the IFAB amendments for the 2026/27 season. This package of measures effectively addresses situations where time is wasted (goal kicks, throw-ins, substitutions and injuries), thereby ensuring more actual playing time. Referees will be required to apply the new rules rigorously and consistently. Participants also agreed on the need to adopt a more uniform approach to the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). More generally, it was reiterated that, in line with the protocol, the VAR must intervene only in the event of a ‘clear and obvious’ error, i.e. when a referee’s decision is manifestly incorrect or when the referee has failed to spot an obvious incident. VAR is not designed to ‘referee the match’, but to provide essential support to referees, who must remain at the centre of every decision-making process. Lengthy and extremely detailed reviews are often a sign that the decision taken on the pitch was not clearly and obviously incorrect and, therefore, should be kept to a minimum.
