Uefa referees' chief Roberto Rosetti says some video assistant referee reviews "were not connected with football".

UEFA's head referee Roberto Rosetti has criticized the application of Video Assistant Referee technology in recent matches, stating that certain VAR interventions strayed beyond football's core principles. Rosetti's comments highlight ongoing concerns about inconsistent decision-making across European competitions. The remarks emerge as VAR remains one of football's most debated innovations since its introduction at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where it was credited with preventing numerous on-field errors while simultaneously creating frustration among players and fans over marginal offside calls and subjective interpretations of contact in penalty areas.

VAR systems have been deployed across UEFA competitions including the Champions League and Europa League since the 2017-18 season, with the technology designed to assist referees in reviewing clear and obvious errors. However, inconsistencies in implementation have plagued the system, particularly regarding handball decisions and contact assessment in the penalty box. The Premier League, which adopted VAR for the 2019-20 season, saw controversy spike dramatically during the 2020-21 campaign when 34 VAR-related incidents generated significant debate among clubs and analysts. Rosetti's critique suggests that protocol violations have extended beyond technical execution into subjective territory where referees have been making decisions based on criteria not explicitly outlined in football's Laws of the Game.

Moving forward, UEFA officials face mounting pressure to clarify VAR protocols and establish consistent thresholds for intervention across all European matches. Rosetti's position as referee chief provides him authority to influence policy adjustments for upcoming seasons in the Champions League and other continental competitions. The 2024-25 season presents an opportunity for UEFA to implement stricter guidelines, potentially limiting VAR reviews to genuinely clear and obvious errors rather than subjective judgment calls. Elite clubs participating in this season's Champions League have collectively emphasized the need for transparency, as VAR decisions increasingly determine qualifying positions and tournament progression outcomes worth millions in revenue.