UEFA has confirmed it will conduct a comprehensive review of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system at the end of the 2025/26 season, with the aim of reducing excessive “microscopic” interventions and restoring greater consistency in decision-making across European football.
The announcement was made by UEFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer, Roberto Rosetti, during a press conference in Nyon on Friday, February 13, 2026. Rosetti acknowledged the widespread frustration among fans, players, coaches and pundits over VAR’s frequent interruptions and perceived overreach on minor incidents.
The review will analyse every VAR intervention from the current season across UEFA competitions (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, national team matches) and selected domestic leagues.
Focus areas include: Reducing “microscopic” offside calls (e.g. millimetre decisions that stop clear goal-scoring opportunities), Improving consistency in handball, foul interpretation and subjective decisions (e.g. red-card incidents), Shortening the time taken for VAR checks to minimise match stoppages, Evaluating the balance between “clear and obvious error” and “supportive” refereeing and Rosetti said: “VAR was introduced to correct clear and obvious mistakes, not to create new debates over microscopic details. We must return to a point where the game flows and the referee’s authority is respected. The end-of-season review will be thorough and transparent. We will listen to all stakeholders players, coaches, referees, fans and broadcasters.”
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The 2025/26 season has seen intense criticism of VAR in European competitions, with high-profile incidents in the Champions League and domestic leagues leading to delayed matches and disputed decisions.
UEFA has already trialled semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) in some matches and is expected to expand its use next season why The review will also consider feedback from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the ongoing Nations League campaign.
UEFA plans to publish the full findings and any proposed rule changes before the start of the 2026/27 season. The announcement has been welcomed by many fans and coaches, though some referees’ unions have expressed concern that further restrictions could undermine the system’s effectiveness in correcting serious errors.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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