UEFA Calls for VAR Uniformity

April 24, 2024

The UEFA Football Board has acknowledged that the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology needs to be “more consistent, transparent and understandable for players, fans and coaches.”

During a meeting in Nyon, Switzerland on Monday, 22 April, the board discussed ongoing irregularities in the system, some of which had been highlighted during two controversial English Premier League matches the day before.

Nottingham Forest has officially requested the audio tape of match officials’ discussions from their 2-0 loss to Everton to be made public, citing “extremely poor” refereeing decisions.

Coventry City were also left dissatisfied with the process after a VAR review ruled out what could have been a winning goal against Manchester United. The decision ultimately put the Sky Blues out of the running for the Football Association Challenge Cup.

In a statement released via UEFA’s official website on Tuesday, 23 April, the board members revealed that they “are united in their belief that this issue needs to be addressed as firmly as possible.”

“VAR should be seen as a tool helping referees and its interventions should not be perceived as a negative judgement on referees themselves. It is clear as that not everything on the pitch may be seen by the referee.”

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