UEFA has launched 'Clear Line', an online platform designed to unify refereeing standards across European football, offering detailed explanations and video material on the game's most complex situations. The guidelines were developed by the refereeing chiefs of Germany, England, France, Italy and Spain and agreed upon by all 55 UEFA member associations.
UEFA chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti said the initiative aims to return VAR to its original purpose, intervening only on clear and obvious errors. Reviews should not exceed 60 to 90 seconds, Rosetti said, warning that prolonged checks risk losing credibility. He urged referees not to over-rely on freeze-frame images and to consider the broader context of a challenge, particularly for potential red-card offences.
The platform will be updated dynamically as new match situations arise, with real-time replays supplementing still images when assessing the intensity of challenges.