Uefa chief Rosetti warns VAR is becoming PlayStation‑like

Uefa referees’ chief Roberto Rosetti told a press conference that VAR is turning into a video‑game experience, saying “It’s football, not PlayStation,” as he unveiled the new Clear Line portal and highlighted the Premier League’s low VAR intervention rate of 0.29 per game last season across Europe, as shown in a Getty ImagesImage caption.

Clear Line portal launched

Rosetti launched Clear Line, described as the first‑of‑its‑kind portal for fans that explains when VAR should and should not intervene. The platform contains video examples covering penalties, red cards, attacking offences, factual decisions and mistaken identity. Rosetti said it is a guide for all people of football, not just officials.

The launch followed a meeting last month with lead referee officers from England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy, alongside IFAB technical director David Elleray. The group discussed a more uniform approach to VAR decisions across the top European leagues. Rosetti noted that “everywhere now there is not any satisfaction about how VAR is impacting football.”

Handball remains a contentious issue. The Premier League recorded a handball penalty every 17.27 games, the most relaxed rate, while the German Bundesliga averaged one every 10.93 games, Spain’s La Liga 10.56, Italy’s Serie A 10.00 and France’s Ligue 1 9.27. In the Champions League the frequency rose to a penalty every seven games, the highest in Europe.

VAR intervention rates and consistency

VAR intervention rates also vary widely. In the 2025‑26 season the Premier League had the lowest rate in Europe at 0.29 per game, compared with 0.47 per game in the Champions League. Rosetti warned that “too many reviews” are influencing player behaviour and that lengthy checks risk losing credibility.

A new collective protocol was agreed to streamline reviews. When a referee consults the monitor, the first view is a freeze‑frame of the point of contact, followed by half‑speed and then full‑speed footage. Rosetti stressed that any check longer than 90 seconds could undermine trust.

Rosetti emphasized that referees need personality and must make decisions on the pitch, with VAR stepping in only for clear and obvious errors. Rosetti, who refereed the Euro 2008 final, described Clear Line as “a library, a structure, a document” for clubs, players and fans to understand VAR applications after a Champions League match.

The chief concluded that returning VAR to its original purpose will help restore the referee’s central role and improve the game’s flow. He reiterated that “football is not PlayStation,” urging stakeholders to keep interventions limited to unmistakable situations.