Refereeing designator Daniele Orsato outlined the statistics showing how this season’s new approach to fouls and VAR has transformed Serie A. ‘The objective is to favour football.’

The officials made it clear from the summer that they would be taking a looser view of the sport, after criticism from players and coaches that there were too many soft free kicks.

This in turn slowed down the overall tempo of the game, which became particularly evident when Italian teams had to play in Europe and were easily out-run.

BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 12: Referee Simone Sozza checks the pitch side VAR monitor during the Serie A match between Atalanta and AS Roma at Gewiss Stadium on May 12, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Today the Lega Serie A, the Italian Referees’ Association and representatives from the 20 Serie A clubs met at the Lissone VAR hub near Milan to discuss the five rounds played so far this season.

There were errors that the referees admitted to, but other situations where they stood their ground, insisting that VAR must only intervene in case of clear and obvious error, or a situation that the referee did not have a good view of.

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 19: Referee Daniele Chiffi cancels a goal for Udinese Calcio after consulting the VAR during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 19, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“We want to give a direct contribution to improving the spectacle offered,” said refereeing director Domenico Messina.