Italy's Serie A has descended into a VAR-driven free-for-all, leaving coaches like Luciano Spalletti and Daniele De Rossi fuming. The introduction of the Video Assistant Referee system was meant to improve the accuracy of refereeing decisions but instead it seems to have become a tool for teams to gain an unfair advantage.
De Rossi's Genoa team lost 3-2 to Napoli in their latest match, with Maxwel Cornet scoring the equalizer in second-half injury time after being deemed to have been fouled by Antonio Vergara. The forward had clearly caught Vergara's standing boot, but VAR intervened, and the penalty was awarded.
De Rossi lamented that football has lost its way since the introduction of VAR. "I don't know what to say any more," he said. "The football we played no longer exists. We were naive, but it seems I don't know anything. I don't know what sport I am coaching."
Spalletti also expressed frustration with the system, saying that managers need to get together and make their voices heard. He argued that VAR has become too reliant on technology, with rules being created that are difficult to apply in real-time.
One example of this was a conversation Spalletti had with Dazn's Federica Zille during his post-match press conference. When asked about consent, Spalletti said, "Can I give you a kiss?" before leaning in and giving her one on the shoulder. The gesture was intended to illustrate the need for nuance in refereeing decisions.
However, some have questioned whether Spalletti's actions were appropriate, with Zille visibly caught off guard and laughing as she turned back to camera. It was an awkward moment that highlighted the difficulty of applying VAR rules in a way that is fair and consistent.
Despite these issues, many Serie A managers agree that referees need professionalization. The application of VAR has become too complex, and it's time for Italy to form its own professional body to oversee refereeing decisions.
For now, De Rossi's frustration will have to be tempered with the knowledge that his team is showing signs of improvement under his management. Genoa have lost only one game since his appointment as manager, and they've managed to scrape crucial draws against Lazio and Bologna.
However, with VAR still dominating the headlines, it remains to be seen whether De Rossi's team can overcome their opponents without relying on the system to give them an unfair advantage. As he said, "We're giving [the technology] a dangerous power." Only time will tell if that's something Italy is willing to do long-term.
De Rossi's Genoa team lost 3-2 to Napoli in their latest match, with Maxwel Cornet scoring the equalizer in second-half injury time after being deemed to have been fouled by Antonio Vergara. The forward had clearly caught Vergara's standing boot, but VAR intervened, and the penalty was awarded.
De Rossi lamented that football has lost its way since the introduction of VAR. "I don't know what to say any more," he said. "The football we played no longer exists. We were naive, but it seems I don't know anything. I don't know what sport I am coaching."
Spalletti also expressed frustration with the system, saying that managers need to get together and make their voices heard. He argued that VAR has become too reliant on technology, with rules being created that are difficult to apply in real-time.
One example of this was a conversation Spalletti had with Dazn's Federica Zille during his post-match press conference. When asked about consent, Spalletti said, "Can I give you a kiss?" before leaning in and giving her one on the shoulder. The gesture was intended to illustrate the need for nuance in refereeing decisions.
However, some have questioned whether Spalletti's actions were appropriate, with Zille visibly caught off guard and laughing as she turned back to camera. It was an awkward moment that highlighted the difficulty of applying VAR rules in a way that is fair and consistent.
Despite these issues, many Serie A managers agree that referees need professionalization. The application of VAR has become too complex, and it's time for Italy to form its own professional body to oversee refereeing decisions.
For now, De Rossi's frustration will have to be tempered with the knowledge that his team is showing signs of improvement under his management. Genoa have lost only one game since his appointment as manager, and they've managed to scrape crucial draws against Lazio and Bologna.
However, with VAR still dominating the headlines, it remains to be seen whether De Rossi's team can overcome their opponents without relying on the system to give them an unfair advantage. As he said, "We're giving [the technology] a dangerous power." Only time will tell if that's something Italy is willing to do long-term.
VAR needs a serious reboot. It's all about getting to the point and not overthinking it 
. These coaches are right, managers need to speak up and set some boundaries. This technology was meant to help, but now it's just a tool for teams to manipulate 
. Genoa is showing signs of improvement, but they're doing it under pressure from VAR 
. It's time to find a better balance between tech and the beautiful game 
. I think we need to find a better balance between tech and common sense 
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! I'm a huge football fan and it's sad to see coaches like Luciano Spalletti and Daniele De Rossi so frustrated with the system. The idea of VAR was to help improve accuracy, but it's just become a way for teams to gain an unfair advantage 
️.
. It's time for Italy to form its own professional body to oversee refereeing decisions and make things more consistent 
.
? I mean, was it intentional or just a weird gesture? Either way, it showed how complex VAR rules can be and need some nuance 
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, who knew that would be a thing? 
. It seems like teams are more focused on gaming the system than actually playing good football. I get where De Rossi and Spalletti are coming from - the technology is supposed to help, not hinder the game. And that awkward moment with Federica Zille? 
but yeah i get why Spalletti said what he did, var can be super confusing even i cant understand some of those rules sometimes 
and genoa are actually doing pretty well under De Rossi's management, maybe they dont need var so much after all 
️. genoa's doing okay without var, they're showing signs of improvement, but whats the point of winning if its not because you truly believe in your team?
Daniele De Rossi is totally right, it's changed the whole vibe of the game. And that gesture by Spalletti during the press conference? More like a desperate attempt to highlight his point than a clever illustration 
I'm like totally with Daniele De Rossi on this one... VAR is getting out of hand and it's affecting the actual game 
. Maybe if they form this pro body thingy, it'll help them figure out a better way to do it 
!
they're stuck in a nightmare with var. but, on the bright side, genoa's showing some promising signs under de rossi's management 
. It's like the system has become a crutch for teams instead of relying on good old-fashioned refereeing instincts. I'm not saying we should ditch VAR entirely, but some of these rules are just ridiculous 
. But let's not forget, De Rossi's team is showing signs of life under his management 
de rossi said it best, "the football we played no longer exists" ... and yeah, i can see both sides of the argument, referees need to be trained up but the rules just seem so open to interpretation atm 