UEFA to Provide More Detailed Explanations of VAR Decisions at Euro 2024

 


Fans attending Euro 2024 will receive more detailed explanations of video-assisted refereeing (VAR) decisions, as UEFA aims to enhance spectator understanding. The announcement was made by Roberto Rosetti, the head of UEFA's refereeing committee, on Wednesday.

Enhanced Transparency for Fans
To address one of the main criticisms of VAR technology – the difficulty for match-going fans to understand decisions – stadium screens across Germany will display "technical explanations" of VAR calls. This initiative is intended to make the decision-making process clearer for spectators.

"After the video assistance, the technical explanation of the decision will be shown on the giant screens in the stadiums," Rosetti explained during a press briefing at the Allianz Arena, ahead of the tournament opener on Friday.

Example of VAR Explanation
Rosetti provided an example of the type of information fans will receive after a VAR call:

"Penalty, handball, Germany's number nine touched the ball with his left hand, which was in an unnatural position, over his shoulder and extending away from his body."

Learning from Past Experiences
The decision to provide more detailed explanations follows a similar approach taken at the 2023 Women's World Cup, where officials announced decisions to spectators verbally before restarting play.

Rosetti also mentioned that referees would be able to explain decisions to the team captains, but other players challenging decisions or demanding information would be cautioned. This rule was successfully applied in UEFA club competition finals, resulting in yellow cards for players who approached referees to contest decisions.

Importance for Future Generations
"We do this for the next generations... for football and the image of the game, for the young players and for the young referees," said Rosetti, emphasizing the broader impact of the initiative.

Adjustments for Captains
For teams with a goalkeeper as captain, such as Italy and Slovenia, an outfield player will be designated before the match to act as the on-field captain in interactions with referees.