Manuela Nicolosi (DAZN): Match management and VAR, where is it going wrong?

Since 2010, Manuela Nicolosi has established herself as a referee and commentator, distinguishing herself during numerous prestigious meetings. She plays a vital role in the advancement of women in refereeing, making history by being a member of the first women’s team to officiate at a men’s European final, the UEFA Super Cup. between Liverpool and Chelsea in 2019. Nicolosi is also the first Italian referee to have officiated a Women’s World Cup final, in addition to having been selected for two editions of the Olympic Games (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020) and five FIFA tournaments.

Having spent 13 years in France, she practiced her profession between Europe, the United States and Asia, not only as an advisor for a renowned American company, but also by pursuing her passion for football. Recognized as the best female referee in both France and Italy, she has officiated more than 100 matches at professional and international level. She was also the first Italian to referee a match in Ligue 1, the French men’s football championship.

The figure of the referee: interpretation or strict application of the regulations?

“In my opinion, some rules must be applied literally, without room for interpretation, while others require evaluation. Take for example the famous case of the hand: we must determine whether there is an intentional movement of the hand towards the ball or not. On the other hand, there are situations where interpretation is necessary, such as for a yellow card, where it is up to the referee to judge whether it is appropriate to show one at that particular moment in the match. It’s a question of interpretation.

On the other hand, strict application of the regulation must be done in clearer situations, such as a red card, which is punished in the event of excessive use of force. Here, the regulation is unambiguous: it must always be applied. This is also the case for offside, which is based on objective criteria.

Should the referee depend on external validation?

“Theoretically, according to the protocol, the VAR (video assistance to refereeing) must only intervene in the event of a manifest and serious error. For example, if the referee calls a penalty for a foot on the field and the VAR shows that there was no contact. In this case, it is right to intervene to rectify the error. However, VAR can sometimes call the referee even for more subtle cases where contact deemed light might not warrant a whistle.

The problem is that, whether on the pitch or in front of the screen, there are two referees, and it happens that they have different opinions on the same situation. On the pitch, the referee perceives the action in the blink of an eye from a perspective often restricted by a defender, whereas in VAR, the visualization is broader and analytical, similar to that which we have in front of our team. television. In this context, a situation may appear clearly wrongful, while the referee on the field experienced it differently due to the circumstances.

Listen to the full interview with Manuela Nicolosi here | Radio Radio Mattino Sport and News December 18