Inter Milan Vice-President Javier Zanetti Weighs In On VAR Controversies: “The Most Important Thing Is That There’s Transparency”

Inter Milan Vice-President Javier Zanetti believes that the most important aspect of avoiding VAR controversies is transparency.

Speaking to Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport in an interview published in today’s print edition, via FCInterNews, the Nerazzurri executive weighed in on the significance of refereeing mistakes in the VAR era.

Over the past few seasons, European football has reckoned with the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee.

There have been new controversies and debates that have come with the new technology.

On the one hand, it is hardly as though refereeing controversy wasn’t already a big feature in Italian football.

But the advent of VAR has changed the nature of the debates. The issue is that the technology, on paper, should virtually eliminate or at least minimize errors.

Without a second look via VAR, it is understandable for on-pitch officials to get decisions wrong.

But on the other hand, when the VAR is to make an error, it calls into question exactly why the technology is in use to begin with.

Controversies like the failure to award Torino a penalty against Inter after an apparent foul by Andrea Ranocchia on Andrea Belotti are the perfect illustration of this situation.

Without VAR, it would be understandable if the referee hadn’t had a clear view of the situation.

But as long as the video assistant has the ability to carefully watch and reply moments like that, it is harder to accept mistakes.

Inter VP Javier Zanetti Says “Consistency” The Most Important Thing With VAR

The debates around VAR have, therefore, been very heated.

One issue has been consistency – there is often confusion about exactly how referees are applying the rules.

Then, there is the matter of decisions that seem to differ widely, even in identical situations.

Potentially exacerbating these issues has been the fact that fans and even club coaches and staff don’t always have a clue about how VAR are arriving at their decisions.

Therefore, Zanetti feels, the key aspect is having a clearer window into the process.

“I believe that, as with everything, a balance must be found,” the Inter Vice-President said.

“We have to support the technology because it improves football,” he continued.

“And then even after that, there will be mistakes and controversies,” Zanetti said “Especially in a country like [Italy.]”

“But everything is in good faith,” he argued. “We can improve VAR. The most important thing is consistency.”