Overview
- Speaking to Marca, the 79-year-old said referees operate as a closed "caste" that resists outside input.
- He argued that VAR excludes former professional players who could better interpret on-field situations.
- Capello said the analysis was conducted with UEFA, finding only six of 20 penalty awards were justified.
- Following strong reactions on social networks in Italy and Spain, he said the "Mafia" phrasing was taken out of context to describe an extremely closed organization.
- No formal response from UEFA or refereeing bodies was reported, and Capello remains active as a television commentator.