Clear Line, a new, comprehensive guide to refereeing decisions, is being introduced today, Tuesday 11 August, across European football, with the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) among the 55 national associations supporting it.
The platform has been designed to provide greater clarity, consistency and transparency in decision-making, both at national and European level.
The new platform provides clear guidance to support the consistent application of the Laws of the Game and the use of VAR in European football, both at national level and in UEFA competitions.
The Heads of Refereeing of all UEFA member associations, including the CFA, have approved Clear Line as a reference framework for the consistent and uniform application of refereeing decisions, both at national and European level.
Clear Line brings together more than 150 refereeing scenarios, providing detailed guidance on how the Laws of the Game should be interpreted, as well as when VAR should and should not intervene in specific situations, both at national level and in UEFA competitions.
The platform reinforces one of the key principles of the VAR protocol: that the use of video review should be limited to cases of clear and obvious errors.
By making this comprehensive tool available to referees, players, coaches, commentators and fans, the aim across European football is to improve understanding of refereeing decisions and promote a more consistent application of the Laws of the Game throughout the sport.
The CFA will use Clear Line as a reference point for refereeing decisions in Cyprus and will promote it among fans, players, coaches and the media.
Through a wide range of videos and visual explanations, Clear Line provides valuable insight into the reasoning behind decisions in many of the most complex and widely debated situations in the game.
The platform will continue to evolve over time and will be updated whenever new situations arise or further clarification is required for specific scenarios.
Statement by UEFA Refereeing Director Roberto Rosetti
Commenting on the launch of the platform, UEFA Refereeing Director Roberto Rosetti said:
“Clear Line has been designed to provide clear and precise guidance to referees across European football, helping to ensure greater consistency in decision-making in competitions and a more standardised approach to the use of VAR, for the benefit of the game.
“Although no two situations are ever exactly the same and occasional mistakes remain inevitable, Clear Line will serve as a central reference point for players, coaches, commentators and fans, helping to explain the reasoning behind refereeing decisions and providing a better understanding of the decision-making process.”
Statement by CFA Refereeing Committee Chairman Antonio Damato
“A better understanding of refereeing decisions by everyone involved in a football match, as well as by fans, is particularly important, and I am confident that Clear Line will contribute towards this goal.
“Proper information and knowledge of the Laws of the Game contribute to greater acceptance of decisions, reducing tensions and unnecessary confrontations, while also fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect both on and off the pitch among referees, players, coaches and fans.”
