Referees will explain VAR decisions in real time in Serie A

From this season, Serie A referees will be able to explain their decisions to the stadium following VAR On-Field Reviews, announced designator Gianluca Rocchi.

The new system had already been experimented in the semi-finals and Final of the Coppa Italia last term, but there were no VAR incidents requiring the communication.

It was also used in the FIFA Club World Cup over the summer, and now will be a consistent part of Serie A football in the 2025-26 campaign.

New VAR rules bring greater transparency for referees

“The big news for this season will be the announcement on the field,” explained Rocchi.

“The referee will be able to explain his decision directly to the people in the stadium and on television after a VAR intervention.”

This can be used both following a VAR On-Field Review, and when explaining what the VAR officials told the referee when viewing footage.

That means the decisions that can be made objectively without the referee’s input, for example offside or the ball going out of play.

“It is an important step forward in communication, as for a few years now we have been seeking greater transparency. Now the explanations can be made directly, in real time, with everyone able to hear,” continued designator Rocchi.

“We have a select group of officials and we want to ensure the language is as uniform as possible so that decisions can be clear to the public.”

The audio from the conversations between referees and VAR officials had already been published in a weekly show on DAZN, called Open VAR, with a designator explaining the reasoning behind those decisions.

Now it is hoped that the live audio into the stadium and on television in real time will help fans better understand the rules of the game and their complexities.