Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Stefano Agresti believes the state of refereeing in Serie A has reached a critical point, with a combination of poor quality decisions and widespread confusion threatening the integrity of the league. Recent matches have highlighted glaring errors and inconsistent interpretations that are undermining the credibility of officials and the VAR system.
Unacceptable Errors
The level of mistakes being made is simply unacceptable for professional referees. In many situations, it’s incomprehensible how experienced officials, both on the field and in the VAR room, are unable to correctly evaluate what appears obvious to thousands of viewers at home. Recent months have seen almost paradoxical moments where, as unequivocal images played out before us, VAR failed to intervene and correct clear mistakes.
While we can perhaps forgive an on-field referee for having an obstructed view or misperceiving an incident in real-time, it’s inexcusable for VAR not to rectify these errors. That’s precisely why the system was implemented. The VAR officials have access to the same footage as viewers, yet repeatedly fail to identify blatant mistakes. It’s akin to a doctor failing to diagnose an illness that laypeople can easily identify.
Recent examples, such as the errors by Feliciani and Di Paolo in Torino-Genoa and Pairetto in Empoli-Milan, underscore the inadequate level of Italian refereeing. It’s clear that Rocchi’s efforts to improve the technical quality of officials have fallen short of expectations.
Inconsistent Interpretations
Even more alarming is the confusion surrounding rule interpretation and the resulting inconsistency in decision-making between referees and VAR officials. Whether it’s “step on foot” fouls, penalty decisions, or handball interpretations, there’s a stark lack of uniformity.
The recent incident involving Gatti’s fingertip touch in Como-Juventus perfectly illustrates this problem. While some, like the experienced Fabregas, saw it as a clear and indisputable foul, referee Abisso and VAR official Guida deemed it insufficient for a penalty. The fact that refereeing authorities agreed with this decision, while suspending other officials for different errors, only adds to the confusion.
The Need for Comprehensive Reform
It’s clear that a complete overhaul is necessary, and not just of the current crop of referees. Certain rules need clarification, and the VAR protocol requires refinement to eliminate uncertainties and inconsistencies. Various proposals are under consideration, including a challenge system for VAR reviews and expanding its use for second yellow card decisions.
However, before implementing new rules, it’s crucial to elevate the quality of Italian referees. Without this fundamental improvement, even revised regulations are likely to be misapplied.
The current situation is untenable. For too many seasons, these issues have plagued Serie A. It’s time for decisive action to restore faith in the officiating system and ensure the focus remains on the beautiful game itself, rather than controversial decisions.
