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UEFA Publishes 'Clear Line' to Limit VAR Intervention

The measure sets a 60–90 second target for reviews to restore referees' authority on the pitch.

Overview

  • UEFA unveiled the Clear Line platform on Tuesday, publishing about 150 reference scenarios on its website to explain when VAR should be used and to make decisions more transparent.
  • The new policy instructs VAR to intervene only for 'clear and obvious' match-defining errors and not for microscopic or purely technical details.
  • UEFA has set a target that most VAR checks should last 60 to 90 seconds and warned that reviews exceeding 90 seconds risk undermining the system's credibility.
  • For red cards, referees will be guided to judge the full dynamic sequence of play rather than rely primarily on single-frame images, with multiple real-time replays shown after stills.
  • The guidelines were drafted by the referees' chiefs of Germany, England, France, Italy and Spain and approved by all 55 UEFA members; some national bodies, such as the DFB/Bundesliga, still choose different rules on matters like corner reviews.