Serie A match officials are keeping fewer fouls, issuing fewer cards, and letting matches run longer under a streamlined refereeing direction confirmed on September 29 at the VAR Center in Lissone. Head of the CAN A and B Daniele Orsato announced that the current approach will continue unchanged through June, prioritizing player autonomy and raising the threshold for video review intervention.
Orsato Confirms Direct Course at Lissone Media Briefing
Daniele Orsato met with journalists, opinionists, and commentators at the International Broadcast Centre in Lissone alongside FIGC general secretary Marco Brunelli and Lega ad Luigi De Siervo. Orsato stated that his refereeing crew will maintain the current path through the end of the season despite early mistakes. “The errors are there, but I am going straight through to the end of the season. I do not change my mind from one week to the next,” Orsato said.
The directive places emphasis on minimizing soft penalties, known locally as “rigorini,” and reducing yellow and red cards. According to data released at the meeting, these changes have resulted in an increase of 5 minutes and 53 seconds in effective playing time per match compared to the previous campaign. Orsato emphasized that officials must make decisions at the center of the pitch rather than relying on surgical video interventions.
Club Presidents and Coaches Assess the New Approach
Serie A club representatives reviewed the new officiating standards during a separate direct meeting. Lega Serie A president Ezio Maria Simonelli described the exchange as positive and noted that Orsato displayed significant self-criticism regarding refereeing errors. “He is the first to get angry; what he does not want is for mistakes to be repeated and for decisions to be different, both within a match and between matches,” Simonelli stated.
Coaches and club representatives raised questions about consistency, but maintained a unified stance on understanding the strictness parameters. Simonelli highlighted the physical demands placed on match officials under the new rules, noting that referees now cover 12 to 13 kilometers per match to sustain higher effective playing times. Calcio News 24 reported that managers including Fabio Pisacane, Raffaele Palladino, Ruben Amorim, Daniele De Rossi, Gennaro Gattuso, Alberto Aquilani, Carlos Cuesta, and Luciano Spalletti participated in discussions regarding the guidelines.
Evaluating VAR Thresholds and Recognized Errors
The officiating commission set a high bar for technology intervention, restricting video assistant referees to clear and obvious errors where the referee on the field missed the incident entirely. Orsato highlighted specific non-punishable contact incidents from early fixtures, such as foot-to-foot challenges between Gila and Kolo Muani in Juve-Milan, and Alajbegovic against Keita in Juventus-Parma. Similarly, the commission supported the decision not to intervene on a challenge involving De Bruyne and Vasquez.
Conversely, the commission acknowledged several missed calls from the opening fixtures. Orsato and his team admitted that penalties should have been awarded for Nikola Vlasic’s arm position in Torino-Milan, Radu Dragusin’s challenge on Ilario Monterisi in Frosinone-Fiorentina, Pierre Kalulu’s pull on Jonathan Rowe in Juventus-Atalanta, and a defensive tug in Fiorentina-Pisa. Additional missed disciplinary actions included an unpunished challenge in Frosinone-Fiorentina and a red card omission in Como-Parma.
Physical Demands on Match Officials
With effective playing time increasing by nearly six minutes per match, Serie A referees are running between 12 and 13 kilometers per game. Unlike managers, who can make substitutions, officials must maintain peak physical output throughout the entire ninety minutes without tactical relief.
Frequently Asked Questions About Serie A Officiating Guidelines
What is the primary objective of the current refereeing directive in Serie A?
The CAN A and B commission aims to restore central decision-making authority to on-field referees, reduce soft penalty awards, decrease unnecessary yellow and red cards, and maximize effective playing time.
When is the VAR allowed to intervene under the current guidelines?
According to Daniele Orsato and league updates, the VAR must limit its involvement strictly to clear and obvious errors where the referee on the field failed to see or evaluate the incident properly.
How has effective playing time changed this season?
Effective playing time has increased by 5 minutes and 53 seconds per match compared to the previous league season, driven by a reduction in minor stoppages.
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