Aleksander Ceferin Slams Lack of Consistency in European Officiating with VAR

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Published - Apr 24, 2026, 11:49 AM

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Aleksander Čeferin Slams Lack of Consistency in European Officiating with VAR

UEFA

Summary

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has slammed the lack of consistency in officiating across Europe since the introduction of VAR.
The Slovenian was critical about the long-time taken by match officials to intervene and reach a decision.

Officiating in Europe's top leagues has been part of the imagination of the fans in recent years, especially after the introduction and implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the game. While a small section of the fans have spoken highly about officiating through VAR, the majority of the fans have been heavily critical of modern officiating in the top five European leagues.

Recently, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin shared his thoughts about the lack of consistency in officiating across Europe, especially after the introduction of the VAR. The Slovenian admitted that he was no longer able to understand anything about refereeing, an effect that has increased since the introduction of new technology into the game. While talking at the Forum, he was quoted as saying:

“Sometimes fans can’t make sense of the different interpretations of the rules from one match to the next – and I understand them. I don’t understand it myself anymore,” said Ceferin. The handball rule in particular causes confusion: “Nobody understands it. Is it a penalty or not? Is it deliberate or not? How are you supposed to know – you’re not a psychiatrist, after all!” Čeferin said.

What Did Aleksander Čeferin Say About European Officiating with VAR?

The 58-year-old believes that the calls taken by officials on-field should have more credence than calls made by officials in the VAR booth. He stated that VAR should only intervene in situations when there are clear and obvious errors made by the on-field referee.

Čeferin also criticized the long duration of VAR checks that often happen during games in the present times. He shared his belief that the interventions should be quick, which has not been the case in some La Liga or Premier League games, with 10-15 minutes of delay to check an incident.

The Slovenian also believes the best way to avoid errors made by match officials is to follow the rules as strictly as possible, codified and explained by the IFAB. He also shared that one of his big regrets is seeing the big European clubs call him to complain about the errors, but never acknowledging when any decision goes in their favor.