VAR has made '16-18 errors' this season in Serie A claims top referee | OneFootball

Italian football’s Head of Referees has revealed that VAR has made “16-18 errors” in Serie A this season.

The Video Assistant Referee system was introduced to the Italian top flight at the start of the current campaign to much fanfare.

However, according to Nicola Rizzoli, the technology has only caused confusion over when it should be consulted and how the footage is interpreted.

“Barring this matchday, in which I hope there haven’t been any, [VAR] has made 16-18 errors throughout the season,” Rizzoli told Sky Sport Italia.

“Technology doesn’t make you immune to mistakes, it’s impossible. The objective is to reduce the number of errors.

“We’re following a very strict, international protocol, which is to eliminate the discretion of incidents as much as possible.

“Technology must intervene in key situations. Let’s say that the referee, talking to the VAR, says, ‘for me, the defender touched the ball, it’s not a penalty’, while the VAR replies, ‘no, you were wrong, he didn’t touch it, go and review it.’

“That’s a clear example of when reviews are needed. We must refer to an international protocol, one on a global scale.

“We’re also wired up in a way that only what happens on the pitch is judged.”