UEFA takes step to tackle VAR problem with 'Clear Line' platform
Nyon, August 11
UEFA has taken a massive step towards cementing video technology, creating the 'Clear Line' platform, a guide which can be used by anyone to know how and when a video assistant referee should intervene.
As per a report from AS newspaper cited by Goal.com, the 'Clear Line' is already up and running, meant to summarise the cases, plays, procedures and criteria that should be applied and explain the workings of the VAR system that has produced so much controversy over the years.
Roberto Rosetti, head of UEFA's referees committee, said as quoted by Goal.com: "The question everyone is asking is: when should the video assistant referee intervene? This is the main topic. No one knows when they should do it."
Roberto said that all the experience of around eight years, on various VAR cases, was used to bring the platform to life, and it is not limited just to officials; it is for players, coaches, fans and journalists as well.
"We drew on our experience spanning around 8 years, on the various VAR cases, and on more than 100 clear clips, and we created Clear Line. It is a document in which we explain when and how the video assistant referee should intervene, and it has been prepared so that everyone can have a clear line. It is not intended for referees only, but for football. It is intended for players, coaches, fans and journalists too," he added.
For Roberto, the foundation of VAR had to rest on a system capable of keeping everything organised.
Another UEFA official, Velasco Carballo, said that "it is not a web page for referees or referee organisations".
"This is a web page created to explain our basic principles to anyone. It is the space we would like to be referred to after a Champions League match, to compare cases with the clips in the library," he continued.
"It is a web page intended for clubs, players and fans. And in some of the texts, one can find expressions that may, perhaps, be very colloquial, and not in referees' terminology, but we did that deliberately," he signed off.
UEFA will follow this guide from the 2026-27 season to make VAR less interventionist, focusing on more blatant and serious errors rather than fine and small ones.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Eight years of experience and 100+ clips to finally explain the "clear line" - about time! I just wish they'd also address the time delays. Matches are becoming too stop-start. But this is a step in the right direction for fans like us who watch Premier League and Champions League in India at odd hours!
This is long overdue. The "Clear Line" initiative sounds promising, but I remain skeptical. UEFA needs to ensure referees actually apply consistent standards. We've seen too many subjective calls under the guise of "clear and obvious." Still, credit where it's due for trying to standardize the process.
As someone who religiously follows European football here in Bengaluru, I appreciate the effort to educate fans and players. But let's be honest - will this actually stop the controversies? The recent Champions League decisions have been embarrassing. Let's see if this translates to fewer howlers on the pitch.
I like that they've made it accessible for everyone, not just referees. Using colloquial language is smart - football should be for everyone, not just officials who understand jargon. This could help grow the game globally, including in emerging markets like India.
I just hope this means fewer interruptions during matches. VAR should be for clear and serious errors, not for microscopic offside calls where a player's toenail is offside. The spirit of the game matters. Let's see if this actually changes the culture or just looks good on paper.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.