Gianluca Rocchi, the Serie A refereeing designator, recently shared that FIFA is working on a new stage of VAR protocol. He expressed relief at using the technology for the first time, feeling like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. In England, there was a vote to ban VAR in the Premier League, with only Wolverhampton Wanderers in favor of scrapping it completely. However, in Italy, the debate focuses on why VAR cannot be used more frequently.
In Italy, there is a desire for coaches to have the ability to request a VAR On-Field Review without having to wait for officials to identify a clear and obvious error first. While VAR is now an essential part of the sport, Rocchi admitted to initially having doubts about its introduction. However, after experiencing its benefits firsthand, he now believes in its advantages and wishes he had it throughout his entire career as a referee.
One of the reasons why VAR is more widely accepted in Italy than in England is the comprehensive explanation of the protocol and decision-making process provided by television channels. Former referees serve as pundits, and the DAZN program Open VAR offers viewers the opportunity to see actual footage and audio from match officials. This transparency has helped increase understanding and acceptance of VAR in Italy.
Through Open VAR, the refereeing community has been able to show the reality of the dialogue between referees and Video Assistant Referees during matches. This level of transparency has been beneficial in educating viewers and improving the overall perception of VAR in Italian football. In contrast, English football fans may be less accepting of VAR due to concerns about bias or errors made by officials who rely too heavily on technology rather than human intuition when making decisions on the field.
