Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi claims none of his colleagues ‘can be against VAR’ but notes its ‘line of intervention’ can improve.
VAR has come under scrutiny this season for its lack of clarity concerning how the video official is consulted, and Rocchi agreed the process needed a review of its own.
“There’s no referee who can be against it,” he told La Repubblica.
Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi claims none of his colleagues ‘can be against VAR’ but notes its ‘line of intervention’ can improve.
VAR has come under scrutiny this season for its lack of clarity concerning how the video official is consulted, and Rocchi agreed the process needed a review of its own.
“There’s no referee who can be against it,” he told La Repubblica.
“I did four Roman derbies without sleeping for three nights, but I enjoyed the last two. Our approach doesn’t change but I know that if there’s technology, it can fix a mistake I make.
“The real problem is the line of intervention. Sometimes you get involved too much, sometimes too little, but you can remove or add pressure on the referee from the VAR booth.
“We always say in meetings: the VAR doesn’t have to be a friend of the referee, if you love [the referee], you unconsciously risk not wanting to make a fool of them and not correcting a mistake, which could save a game.
“Still, VAR isn’t slow motion: it must correct any clear errors and not butt into any questionable situations.
“The secret of good refereeing at the World Cup was also that: I was sceptical, but splitting [the roles] worked.
“Nothing changes with VAR, it reinforces the concept [of refereeing], but what might not be clear for me maybe is for a Coach or fan because that incident could change the game.
“It’s all about subjectivity. As for handballs: if I deem one voluntary and but a colleague of mine doesn’t, who is right?
“It’s both or neither of us, so it’s easy for anyone who wants to make controversy to do that.
“Nowadays communication is crucial, but not everyone has broad shoulders to explain an error: a young man on TV can get himself into trouble, so they must be protected.”