The world of football is approaching an important turning point in the relationship between referees and the public: the VarDict system, which will allow decisions taken on the field to be explained live, represents a decisive step towards greater transparency.
It supports it Titian Pieri, former referee and commentator, spoke to the microphones of Rai Radio 1 Sports. “The circle of necessary communication between referees and the outside world is closing”, Pieri declared. "This change will be useful not only for the public in the stands, but also for the workers on the bench, who already rely on tablets and cell phones to monitor the images broadcast on TV. More transparency means less controversy, and that's always a good thing for football."
While the possibility of listening to the referees' explanations represents a positive innovation, Pieri raises a question: are the referees really prepared for this further step? “We need to understand whether referees are receiving the right training to deal with this communicative evolution, which will inevitably have to end with a direct dialogue with the media as well. Now they will be able to talk to the public in the stadiums, but why not allow them to openly engage with journalists to analyse decisions? The AIA (Italian Referees Association) should completely remove the glass bell in which it has protected the refereeing class. Otherwise, it leaves room for external interpretations that are often incorrect”.
VAR and playing time: will actual playing time be necessary?
One of the side effects of Var technology is the lengthening of dead times during matches, a problem that could be accentuated with the introduction of referee explanations. According to Pieri, to avoid "biblical recoveries" it would be appropriate to evaluate theintroduction of effective time, as happens in rugby. “I am in favor of experimenting in this direction”, said the former referee.
Another solution could be the adoption of the On call, with the possibility for teams to request a limited number of revisions in time, keeping them only in case of a positive outcome. "The referees must return to refereeing. The VAR cannot completely replace them. If every decision were entrusted to the video room, there would be a risk of an interminable series of interruptions. We need balance, responsibility and, above all, clear rules."
Article published on March 25, 2025 - 16pm
Video Chronicles
It is true that communication between referees and the public is important, but there are many things to consider. Referees must be prepared for this new system, otherwise there is a risk of creating more confusion than clarity. In addition, there is also the problem of downtime that could increase with live explanations.