Fans at Euro 2024 will receive more detailed information on video-assisted refereeing (VAR) decisions than ever before, UEFA announced on Wednesday.
Roberto Rosetti, head of UEFA’s refereeing committee, stated that stadium screens across Germany would provide “technical explanations” of VAR calls to improve spectator understanding.
Historically, one of the main criticisms of VAR technology has been the difficulty match-going fans face in comprehending the reasons behind certain decisions.
“After the video assistance, the technical explanation of the decision will be shown on the giant screens in the stadiums,” Rosetti explained at a press briefing at the Allianz Arena, ahead of the tournament opener on Friday.
He offered an example of the information that fans will see after a VAR call: “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 began announcing decisions to spectators verbally before restarting play. Rosetti mentioned that referees at Euro 2024 will also be able to give explanations to the team captains.
However, other players who challenge decisions or demand information will be cautioned. This rule was enforced in all three UEFA club competition finals, resulting in yellow cards for such infractions in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League finals.
“We do this for the next generations… for football and the image of the game, for the young players and for the young referees,” said Rosetti.
For teams with goalkeepers as captains, such as Italy and Slovenia, an outfield player will be designated before the match to act as the captain for these explanations.
