Rocchi ‘irritated’ by some VAR protocol changes: ‘Will mean more technology’

Serie A refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi finds some of the IFAB announcements about changes to the VAR protocol ‘irritating’ and warns this will lead to ‘greater use of technology.’

The AIA (Italian Referees Association) chief has been under fire of late from several different clubs who were infuriated by the lack of consistency in some decisions taken by referees and VAR.

They were also frustrated by a situation where VAR was banned from interfering in a clear and obvious error, specifically the Pierre Kalulu second yellow card for Juventus after Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni simulated much stronger contact than there was in reality.

VAR still adapting to the modern game

This is one of the moments that prompted the IFAB to change the protocol, starting from the 2026 World Cup this summer, so VAR can intervene on a second bookable offence.

“The change is a little irritating really, if we consider what happened recently and what might’ve happened if we had this rule change a couple of weeks ago,” shrugged Rocchi on DAZN’s Open VAR programme.

“A second yellow card can determine a game and if it is a mistake, then you must be able to fix that. At the same time, I also want to point out we didn’t have incidents in Roma-Juventus because the players focused on playing football, and therefore made life easier for the referee.”

The changes to the protocol also affect potentially revoking corner kicks if they are given incorrectly, while the idea of coaches being able to appeal decisions with a VAR review is going to be experimented.

Rocchi warns this all means a change to the role that VAR has in modern football.

“Our objective is to use technology as little as possible. That doesn’t mean we don’t want to use it, but it should only be used when necessary. The concept of ‘clear and obvious error’ was created so that VAR would have a minimal impact on the game. Some say we are using it too much now, others that we need to use it more.

“When VAR was introduced eight years ago, the game has advanced since then, and so should the protocol. You can’t tell people now ‘the decision is wrong, but VAR cannot intervene,’ because while they might’ve accepted it eight years ago, I fully understand they won’t now.

“If you look at the changes that are being introduced, it will mean greater use of technology. If the protocol bans you intervening, I understand fans asking well what is VAR for then?”