Serie A coaches recently convened with representatives from the Italian Referees’ Association to discuss and clarify the league’s new approach to Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and penalty decisions. The meeting, which included Lega Serie A President Ezio Simonelli and the new designator for the Italian Referees’ Association, Daniele Orsato, aimed to foster uniformity in incident evaluation and clarity on rules.
New Directives for Game Flow
The 2026/27 Serie A season introduced a revised officiating philosophy, prioritising increased game flow and less invasive VAR interventions. The objective is to reduce the number of free kicks and “soft” penalties, with VAR only intervening for clear and obvious errors. Officials are now encouraged to consider the speed and intensity of contact rather than relying solely on slow-motion replays.
This new approach has significantly impacted the number of spot-kicks awarded. So far this season, only five penalties have been given across 50 Serie A matches. While some observers have noted a positive increase in active playing time and a lack of 0-0 draws, others have suggested the pendulum may have swung too far in the opposite direction.
Controversies and Clarifications
Despite the overall aim for improvement, the initial implementation of the new guidelines has not been without controversy. Notable incidents include a shirt tug involving Pierre Kalulu on Jonathan Rowe during Juventus‘ 2-0 victory over Atalanta, where a visible pull inside the penalty area went unpunished. Another contentious moment occurred in the match between Torino and Bologna, where Torino complained that Torbjorn Heggem appeared to catch Gaetano Oristanio’s boot.
Following the meeting, Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti expressed satisfaction with the discussions. “I’m satisfied because they clarified the parameters for evaluation,” Spalletti stated, adding that this clarity is “fundamental for us to get as close as possible to their directives.”
Lega Serie A President Ezio Simonelli emphasised the importance of such dialogues. “This meeting is for an exchange of opinions, of information between clubs, coaches and referees,” he noted, highlighting the ongoing effort to refine the new system. The league acknowledges that, like all new initiatives, there are “some issues” that need addressing, but remains committed to the general approach of refereeing.