The Union of European Football Associations revealed on Wednesday that spectators at Euro 2024 in Germany will receive more detailed information about Video Assistant Referee decisions than in previous tournaments.
The head of UEFA’s refereeing committee, Roberto Rosetti, announced that “technical explanations” of VAR calls will be displayed on stadium screens throughout Germany.
This initiative aims to enhance fans’ comprehension of the decisions made.
Since the widespread adoption of VAR technology, a major criticism has been the difficulty for in-stadium fans to understand the rationale behind certain decisions.
Rosetti illustrated the type of information fans can expect following a VAR decision to include, “Penalty, handball, Germany’s number nine touched the ball with his left hand, which was in an unnatural position, over his shoulder and extending away from his body.”
At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, officials verbally communicated decisions to spectators before resuming play.
Rosetti clarified that while referees will be allowed to explain decisions to team captains, other players who challenge decisions or demand information will be cautioned.
This rule was enforced in all three UEFA club competition finals, resulting in two yellow cards in the Champions League final, two in the Europa League final, and one in the Conference League final.
“We do this for the next generations… for football and the image of the game, for the young players and for the young referees,” Rosetti stated.
For teams where the goalkeeper serves as captain, such as Italy and Slovenia, an outfield player will be designated before the match to act as a stand-in.
