UEFA managing director for refereeing, Roberto Rosetti, provided a review of the officiating at Euro 2024 to the media on Friday, July 28. One of his main conclusions from the tournament so far was that the fan experience inside the stadium has improved because VAR decisions have been explained to supporters on the big screen.
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☑️ Players happy with captain-referee dialogue
☑️ VAR five seconds quicker than #UCL
Roberto Rosetti analyses the #EURO2024 group stage, which had 20 VAR interventions across 36 matches: ⬇️
— UEFA (@UEFA) June 28, 2024
Rosetti highlights improved fan experience
During the group stage, there were 20 VAR interventions – eight on-field and 12 direct reviews. The average time to make a decision has been five seconds quicker than in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League.
When asked about VAR decisions being shown to fans on the big screens inside the stadium, Rosetti said: “It's a live technical explanation – not easy to do, but this is very positive. In the stadiums, everything is much clearer because we have an explanation on the big screen of what's going on on the pitch, and in the VAR.”
‘We’re looking at ways to improve the in-stadium experience’ – VAR decisions in the Premier League to be communicated to fans
This follows comments from Howard Webb in April 2024 that the in-stadium experience needs to improve for Premier League matches. On his regular show “Match Officials Mic’d up,” he was asked by Michael Owen about whether the PGMOL were planning to find ways to better communicate decisions to supporters inside the stadium. Webb said: “It does need improving, doesn't it. When you hear the clips on shows like this it makes sense what's happening. It all becomes apparent and actually you'll hear the referee, Andy Madley, having been to the screen saying, ‘I’m going to speak to Lewis Dunk to explain why the penalty that he feels he should have isn't going to happen because he's fouled Wissa before that.' We're looking at ways to improve the in-stadium experience.
“One of the things you'll have seen maybe in FIFA tournaments, like the Women's World Cup, is announcements from the referee once they've been to the screen. So we're looking at that, we're keeping an open mind about whether that's something we could utilise in the Premier League. For situations like this it would be really useful for the referee to be able to speak to all of the people in the stadium – [to explain] the rationale for why you didn't give a penalty because of the foul that happened before the penalty appeal when Dunk fouled Wissa.”
Dialogue between captains and referees ‘positive’
As well as this, Rosetti touched on the improved dialogue between captains and referees when discussing decisions. Before the tournament, UEFA made it clear that players who were not the team’s captain would be booked if they crowded the referee or showed dissent. Rosetti added: “The referees are giving information to the captains, who are responding in a very positive way. For the other players, it's easier: they don't go to the referee, they don't mob the referee, so this is something that's extremely positive for football.
“I spoke with top players after the games and coaches. I wanted to know their feedback and everyone is happy.
“We had some sanctions for players who didn't respect this. It's a transitional phase, but we have already received requests from national associations in Europe who want to follow this line. This will be implemented in all UEFA competitions, and we are happy that the national associations want to follow.”