Referees and VAR heading towards a more fluid season: Orsato presents the 'let Serie A clubs play' policy.

In a live session designed to lay the foundations for the season, Serie A referees, led by referee designator Daniele Orsato and technical director Domenico Messina, gave clubs an initial assessment of the new technical setup.

The meeting, held at the IBC in Lissone, focused on self-criticism without hiding its firmness: improving errors is a priority, but the approach remains centered on the idea of ​​"letting minor contact play" rather than calling the whistle every time. This was the guiding principle that guided the discussion among referees, clubs, and coaches from all twenty Serie A teams.

The main innovation concerns the use of VAR: the technology intervenes only when the referee is blind or has poor vision, leaving the human eye to take center stage in on-field decisions. This choice is also reflected in the season's numbers: effective playing time has increased to approximately 59 minutes and 31 seconds; the average number of fouls has dropped to 22,60 per game.

Compared to last season, the number of controversial incidents has also decreased: total penalties in the first few weeks have dropped to two, a significant comparison to the nine in the 2025/2026 season and the 14 in 2024/2025; dismissals have been a minimum of two cases compared to six in the previous two seasons. Furthermore, only one on-field review has been recorded so far (compared to six in the previous year) and two overrules, compared to five and six in recent seasons.

Orsato reiterated a policy that demands consistency and transparency: VAR intervenes only if there's a clear error in the referee's vision, but the rest is left up to the on-field staff. The session involved approximately 30 incidents broadcast on video: the key topics were the difference between contact and foul, the imputability of a handball, and the interpretation of semi-automatic offside.

On the technical front, participation was at its peak: all teams sent their coaches or assistants, including well-known figures such as Gritti (Roma), Landucci (Napoli), Spalletti, De Rossi, and others; Chivu, Amorim, and Palladino shared their views. All called for greater uniformity of judgment so that the evaluation criteria could be directly applied to the players on the pitch.

The coaches' reactions did not hide their general appreciation: Spalletti defined the meeting as fundamental for dealing with the new provisions and evaluation parameters; Pisacane confirmed that he had a better understanding of the yardstick; Palladino commented that he found himself with a clearer and more attractive version of football.

The issue remains central even among the most outspoken voices: the one who took a swipe at the system is Sarri, recalling that if VAR isn't called in situations like the one surrounding Kalulu's gesture, it's legitimate to question whether the intervention really makes sense.

The clubs' shared goal is clear: to establish a common benchmark to avoid inconsistencies from match to match, offering players understandable and applicable guidelines. The referees have shown a willingness to correct any shortcomings, but without compromising the new technical approach. The atmosphere has been described as positive, with the understanding that mistakes can happen and that the path being taken is the right one for a more fluid and spectacular game.

In short, the Lissone meeting marks a season in which the collaboration between referees and clubs aims to speed up game management, with a less intrusive but more targeted VAR model, and with greater consistency of judgment that coaches have been clamoring for to convey to fans and players the clarity needed for the game to evolve.