UEFA launches Clear Line - a definitive repository of refereeing decisions

UEFA has today launched Clear Line (uefa.com/clearline), a landmark new repository of refereeing situations designed to bring greater clarity, consistency and transparency to decision-making across European football.

The Chief Refereeing Officers of all UEFA member associations have endorsed Clear Line as the reference framework for the consistent and uniform application of refereeing decisions and VAR interventions at both domestic 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 and when VAR should — and should not — intervene in specific situations, both at domestic and UEFA competition level.

The platform reinforces one of the core principles of the VAR protocol: video review should only be used in cases of clear and obvious errors.

By making this comprehensive resource available to match officials, players, coaches, commentators and fans across Europe, UEFA aims to strengthen understanding of refereeing decisions and promote a more uniform application of the Laws of the Game throughout the sport.

Through a wide range of videos and visual explanations, Clear Line offers valuable insight into the reasoning behind decisions in many of the game’s most complex and debated situations.

The platform will continue to evolve over time and will be updated whenever new situations emerge or where further clarification is required on specific scenarios.

Commenting on the launch, UEFA Refereeing Director Roberto Rosetti said:

“Clear Line is designed to provide clear and precise guidance to match officials across European football, helping to ensure greater consistency in decision-making across competitions and a more standardised approach to the use of VAR for the benefit of the game.

“While no two incidents are ever identical and occasional mistakes remain inevitable, Clear Line will provide a central reference point for players, coaches, commentators and fans, helping to explain the rationale behind refereeing decisions and promoting a greater understanding of the decision-making process.”