“Var ‘on call’ and publicity for dialogues between VAR and referee, as in rugby”. In the program of Antonio Zappi what a challenge Alfredo Trentalange already number one before his resignation in 2022, for the position of president of Italian referees association innovations are planned aimed at a wider and more transparent use of the technological tool called upon to resolve doubts on the pitch and among the fans. Tomorrow the Association will choose its new leader by vote of the delegates. In an interview with AGI, Zappi explains his projects. “I am extremely in favor of the introduction of ‘on-call’ VAR to standardize the intervention of technology and reduce arbitral discretion which is a source of controversybut any modification must be agreed with the regulatory and technical institutions and the future technical management. The use of technology will be increasingly indispensable and the VAR protocol will have to evolve to correct and limit refereeing errors as much as possible. I believe that teams should have the right to have their reasons evaluated in a structured way and therefore the “Challenge” would respond to this logic, guaranteeing transparency and an opportunity for verification.”
Zappi hopes for a crystal clear situation like in rugby. “I believe it is essential to open up transparency by making the dialogues between VAR and referee public. This would allow fans to better understand the decisions and reduce suspicions or controversies. I would like football to take an example from rugby, where this practice is already a consolidated reality.” In this sense, the presidential candidate looks favorably upon it the ‘Open VAR’ initiative with Gianluca Rocchi who weekly analyzes the most controversial cases on television. “The direction is the right one. The greater openness to the media is good but I believe that the AIA must also develop its own channel to disseminate educational content and explain the regulation in a structured and continuous way. In this way, the world of football will better understand the constant commitment of the referees to correctly apply the rules”.
The elections come in the days in which the arbitration world is shaken by accusations of tax evasion against Gianluca Rocchi and Daniele Orsatowhich is among Zappi’s ‘sponsors’. “I believe that the matter has been exploited. I am a tax professional and I know well the issue of the fiscal territoriality of the fees received by referees for international matches. It is a complex matter that has seen interpretative controversies over the years, but once the treatment has been clarified correct, the issue was resolved through the tools for the early settlement of tax disputes as in this case. However, the AIA will strengthen its support to members in this area through the Administrative Experts Commission by offering constant advice on these complex issues. so that no member finds themselves in similar situations again.”
Another hot topic is that of violence against referees which led to a strike by those of Lazio. “The AIA is not a trade union body, therefore it does not call strikes, but violence is unacceptable. The entire federal system wanted to send a clear signal: referees will no longer be sent to fields where episodes of repeated violence are recorded”. Another innovation promised by Zappi concerns appeals against referee dismissals and the working conditions of referees. “The reform of sports employment has redefined the role of referees as sports workers. We must guarantee them economic stability and professional security, introducing tools such as severance pay and adequate welfare. The technical dismissal of a top referee must be managed with transparency, through new regulatory and information mechanisms that protect the rights of arbitrators and clearly justify any decisions”.