VAR, Simonelli dictates: "No interventions if the referee sees them." Orsato: "Mistakes must not be repeated."

"It was a very positive meeting, with great participation." Ezio Simonelli, president of the Lega Serie A, summed up the discussions held at the IBC in Lissone between club representatives and the refereeing community. The meeting also focused on the functioning of VAR and the relationship between technology and on-field decisions. "Orsato explained to us that he will intervene when the referee is blind or has poor vision," Simonelli explained.

The refereeing chief also addressed the most controversial incidents, highlighting the mistakes made and emphasizing the importance of preventing them from happening again. "He's shown where the referees have made mistakes; he's the angriest person when it happens. We have to expect it to happen again, but what he doesn't want to happen is for the mistakes to be repeated."

Part of the discussion also focused on the working conditions of referees. "He focused heavily on the position of the referees, who, however, are busier than in the past; they have to run more," Simonelli explained.

The League president then provided data on the increase in the actual length of matches: "Matches have increased by five and a half minutes compared to last season and by seven minutes compared to the previous one, for which a referee must travel 12-13 kilometers."

This situation makes the referees' job even more challenging: "The pace is higher and they have to run more, but while players can be substituted, the referee cannot." According to Simonelli, no complaints have been received from the clubs. "No critical comments, but rather some clarifications on certain aspects," the League president reported.

The shared goal is above all to standardize the interpretation of game situations: "The important thing—and all the coaches agreed—is to know the yardstick so we can pass it on to the players." The discussion will now continue through a report for all clubs: "We will provide a report to all the clubs so they know what it is."