Uefa restricts VAR usage to clear and obvious errors after World Cup
European football’s governing body has issued new directives limiting Video Assistant Referee interventions to blatantly incorrect decisions following recent global tournament controversies.
Referee chiefs from all 55 national associations and the International Football Association Board (Ifab) reached the consensus during a significant meeting last week.
The collective agreement aims to streamline officiating and drastically reduce the impact of lengthy on-field reviews.
Eliminating microscopic reviews
Officials have stressed that the technology must not be used to re-referee matches.
VAR must only intervene in situations of clear and obvious error, i.e. when a referee decision is blatantly incorrect or when the referee has missed a clear incident.
Uefa statement
Beyond video technology, the gathering also saw unanimous support for sweeping measures designed to speed up game restarts.
These new protocols include strict time limits for substitutions and five-second countdowns for both goal kicks and throw-ins.
Mistaken identity protocol clarified
Leagues and competitions have been formally informed that mistaken identity rules cannot be applied to incidents of simulation.
This specific clarification addresses high-profile incidents from the finals, notably involving Switzerland striker Breel Embolo.
The Swiss forward was controversially dismissed for a second yellow card against Argentina after an initial booking for Leandro Paredes was overturned upon review.
Officials had used the review system to determine the attacker had dived, a practice Ifab has now reminded referees is strictly outside current regulations.
Video assistants are currently only permitted to review cautions to identify the correct player who committed an offence, rather than altering the offence itself.
Driving consistency across Europe
Uefa director of refereeing Roberto Rosetti chaired the crucial meeting and underscored the importance of this unified agreement.
The fact that all 55 national associations and Uefa have agreed on guidelines towards a more consistent approach to the application of the Laws of the Game marks a significant milestone.
Roberto Rosetti
For the popularity of football it is essential to remove all doubt from the game and ensure that the laws are applied with clarity.
The European institution is also expected to reject other optional measures witnessed at the international tournament.
These rejected proposals reportedly include issuing red cards to players who cover their mouths when speaking to opponents.