Starting with VAR, you recently launched a very useful tool on the official website that is accessible to all: "Clear Line". Could you explain more?
"It's called 'Clear Line', accessible from the home page of the UEFA website,. It’s a sort of information library for everyone, to help people understand when VAR intervention is right or wrong. It’s a unique tool, created specifically because so many people ask questions about license or VAR intervention thresholds. Everything is in there: statistics, video clips, handballs, red cards, exchange of person... items of clear evidence that are immediate and visible. Everyone can access it; it will be a central reference point for players, managers, commentators, and fans, contributing to explanations and providing clear and precise indications to match officials all over European football. This helps guarantee greater consistency in the decision-making process across different competitions and a more standardized approach to the use of VAR for the benefit of the game."
There is no doubt about it: VAR is and will continue to make people talk.
"I’m not pleased with the excessive use of VAR that we’ve seen happening lately. I’ve seen it myself, and I’d like us to return to how it was used once upon a time; today, instead, situations are sought out under a microscope. And that’s not good. If an episode is microscopic, well, the referee must be the referee. We need to go back to the origin of VAR intervention. And we need referees who are more precise, stronger, and courageous in using VAR less. Let me be clear: we have top-level 'VMOs' (Video Match Officials) in Europe. But we must intervene in clear and obvious situations, not microscopic ones."
Sometimes is there a fear of making mistakes?
"Seeing referees expecting help from VAR is not good. Match officials must be decisive, and... expect less from VAR."
Some have even reached a paradox, speaking ironically, that VAR is refereeing the match.
"No, let's not be ridiculous. The centrality of the referee is sacred. The referee must be central, courageous, must decide, see well, referee well. Repeat: VAR does not referee or re-referee the match, VAR is a support. It's football, not PlayStation."
Curiosity: Will "Football Video Support" like in Serie C be considered?
"In UEFA competitions, no, we will not adopt it."
Removing VAR for second yellow cards in case of a clear error (and not to assign one) is a nice addition given various errors seen around Europe.
"A-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y, very useful. This year we saw situations, including in Italy (Inter-Juventus, 0-0) or Olympiacos-Barcelona and Burnley-Nottingham Forest, with second yellow card errors no longer acceptable. The first yellow card can be tricky, it's a decision by the person on the pitch; but the second card is an expulsion, and it's crazy that someone can intervene on the match in a clear way."
But can VAR intervene in two cases for a first yellow card?
"If it intervenes on first yellow cards, it would be the end: there is the referee's decision, right or wrong, so be it. Instead, for the first yellow card, it happens in case of an 'exchange of person': if someone is noticed, for example, a 'step on foot' penalized and not real, given by another player compared to the one the referee was addressing, it is removed. Or in the penalty area for simulation."
Here is another key point of refereeing: fighting tens of simulations.
"Often I've seen exaggerated things. And it's certainly not good. As for how VAR can intervene in cases inside the penalty area, we are studying it, reasoning with everyone on how to 'eradicate' this bad habit. Sometimes there is a tendency to exaggerate..."
Let's change the scenario to what was discussed a lot: the hand in front of the mouth. At the World Cup there were two expulsions, but in UEFA there won't be a direct red card, right?
"Correct. There won't be an automatic red. No expulsion. It will be 'at least a yellow card'. It depends, it's at the referee's discretion. If the referee sees provocative or worse behavior, well, then the warning could become..."
From five-second counts clearly visible for the goalkeeper delaying the goal kick (penalty: corner kick for the opponents), to 10" for substituting, to VAR intervening for a throw-in or corner kick assigned incorrectly, times for substitutions: all aimed at speed, not wasting time uselessly.
"Football is also made of intensity, we must reduce delays and this is the line to maintain, save for taking action thanks to injury time..."
Centrality of the referee, less VAR possible...?
"The importance of captains. We need to reconsider the figure of captains. With mutual respect between them and the referees, this is necessary. It was explained to all the teams that clusters and mobs around the referee to protest or gesture are creating a problem. Respect above all for the referee's role. It's one of the basics of football."
CLEAR LINE, a tool by UEFA:
https://www.uefa.com/running-competitions/refereeing/clear-line/
Personally, I really appreciate this attempt by UEFA to educate the average fan about VAR and how it is supposed to work. Nowadays, official communication is probably the only way to provide clarity on these matters.
ReplyDeleteThat said, obviously, the average fan's level of knowledge and interest in the subject is quite low and, in many cases, this will be of little use, because people simply don't want to make the mental effort. But those who are genuinely interested, and I believe there are quite a few of them, will be happy to understand a little more.
That being said, with the clear references to what we saw at the World Cup, it is possible to get a very clear idea of how that distorted use of mistaken identity was regarded. It was absolutely out of place, and I completely agree with Rosetti. Assessing whether interventions in USA - Paraguay and Argentina - Switzerland were correct or not, becomes just a personal idea.
And I say this as someone who really hates simulation. As you know very well, I would even send players off directly for it. But that is not the point here. Using VAR in the way we saw in the USA ultimately meant undermining the authority of the referee on the field.
VAR was created for a limited number of clear situations; it can't become a tool for a second officiating of the game, that is the big point of UEFA and one must agree, I think (at least, my opinion...).
On the VAR aspect, i do think that we definitely need less ''small'' intervention but i don't think reducing it by a lot is the correct answer. Yes the image for a referee to go to the monitor 2 or 3 times a game is not great but i prefer that rather than taking 2 or 3 bad decisions, and i'ms scared than in the end there will be more mistake with this guideline. Hope to be proven wrong.
ReplyDeleteDon't understand his point on the covering his mouth infraction, if the ref need to analyze it and give a YC a RC or nothing depending on the situation then this is absurd. This rule was strict for a reason, if it's on the feeling of every referees nobody will understand anything. I think it was the best decision of this world cup to implement this (not hard tbh).
Good idea to develop a form of RAP for the public, but as @chefren said i don't think it will be used a lot, but it will be a great tool for journalist for example but don't think it will be the case.
UEFA maybe finally learn that communication nowadays is key and should be more important. No answer on the possible announcement after OFR which is surprising if you want better communication.
I don’t like that they use incorrect wording and terms. Mixing ”intentional” with deliberate, which is the law term. And Rosetti mixing warning with yellow card. Completely different things.
ReplyDeleteClear line , imo is a good thing for football we needed this at certain point and honestly agree with Rossetti on this brilliant idea in general, the details may prove tricky. but has the Chief said: THIS IS FOOTBALL NOT PLAYSTATION
ReplyDeleteRosetti says more about Artan assignment for UEFA Super Cup and the use of VAR in UEFA competitions (Clear Line Project).
ReplyDeleteAbout the Somali referee:
"First of all, this is an appointment that should make us happy. For a referee to reach such an important goal is something indescribable; it becomes an obsession. But for a number of well-known reasons, Omar was unable to referee at the World Cup, so we are very happy to have him here.
He is an excellent referee, named the best referee in Africa, and we all know how much African football is growing. He is a very down-to-earth and determined guy, with his feet firmly on the ground. He has prepared himself very well, and I think this appointment can make everyone happy, including his European refereeing colleagues, who are pleased to have him here. For him, refereeing a European match at this level is a fantastic experience.
He has shown his qualities. Seeing his name on the list of participants at a World Cup is proof of his technical qualities, but I also saw in him a very good attitude from a behavioural point of view.
CLEAR LINE:
It has been an incredible project. It is for the fans, and of course for referees too, but above all for everyone who loves football: fans, players and coaches. We were annoyed by the phrase we often heard: “We don't know why VAR intervened, or why it didn't.” Well, nobody can say that anymore. All the situations are now clearly listed, including situations in which technology should not intervene or overturn an on-field decision.
But, again, this is a global tool for football. What we want is strong referees who make decisions on the field, with VAR used in the best possible way. It is a support.
The eight-second goalkeeper rule was applied very well, and there were good results in the other areas too. A match is very often made of full intensity and emotions.
The constant replaying and analysis of incidents doesn't lead to anything good.
Maybe I simplified it too much by saying “less VAR”, but a more accurate way of putting it would be: we need every VAR intervention to be correct, and interventions should be made only in cases of a clear and obvious error, and nothing more. We need very strong referees for doing that.