Refereeing

Working closely with our member associations, we support match officials through preparation, education, performance development and the use of technology, helping them meet the demands of the modern game.

Laws of the Game

Football continues to evolve, and the Laws of the Game are reviewed and updated regularly to ensure they meet the needs of the modern game.

The game's Laws are developed and maintained by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), providing the framework for every match played across the world.

Potential law changes are discussed throughout each season, with input from a wide range of football stakeholders, including referees, players, coaches, technical experts and representatives from UEFA and other confederations.

Law changes are approved ahead of their adoption at the beginning of a new season on 1 July. For tournaments such as UEFA EURO, which start in June and end in July, the competition organiser may decide the Law changes are effective as from the opening match.

VAR and technology in refereeing

Technology plays an important role in supporting referees across UEFA competitions. From video assistant referees (VAR) and semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) to goal-line technology (GLT), we use approved systems and clear procedures to help match officials assess key incidents and reach accurate decisions.

VAR is used to support referees in four match-changing situations: goals, penalty-area incidents, red cards and mistaken identity.

The VAR team checks these incidents and only intervenes in the case of a clear and obvious error, with the referee always responsible for the final decision.

Our standardised VAR review process sets out a four-step approach for pitch-side monitor reviews: offence identification, technical assessment, context at normal speed and final decision.

Our approach

Live 04/08/2026

UEFA's standardised VAR review process  

As the use of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) continues to evolve, it is important that European referees implement a clear, consistent review process.

Live 28/07/2026

European football aligns on refereeing matters ahead of 2026/27 season

Chief refereeing officers of all 55 European national football associations met last week with UEFA Refereeing Officers.

Semi-automated offside technology (SAOT)

SAOT enables VAR teams to determine offside situations quickly and more accurately, thanks to specialised cameras which track 29 different body points per player. Introduced in 2022, the system is used in the UEFA Champions League from the play-off round onwards, the UEFA Women's Champions League from the quarter-finals, as well as the UEFA Europa League and Europa Conference League finals, UEFA's men's and women's EURO tournaments and the UEFA Nations League finals.

Goal-line technology (GLT)

We also manage the installation and operation of Goal-Line Technology (GLT) in some of our competitions, from varying stages. Our Goal Decision suppliers are Hawk-Eye Innovations, the leading company in this field, providing GLT services to a number of top-flight leagues in Europe using a camera-based tracking system.

Should clubs or national associations have existing FIFA-certified GLT installations at their venues for other fixtures, we accept the use of such systems upon confirmation that both teams agree to its use. UEFA also centrally manages the use of GLT in our final tournaments, such as the UEFA Nations League and UEFA EURO.

A goal-line technology check prior to a UEFA Women's Champions League gameUEFA via Getty Images

Referee development

Our work with referees extends beyond matchday. Together with our member associations, we support referee education, mentoring, recruitment and development pathways, helping officials build the skills, confidence and consistency required for the modern game.

Documents
General terms and conditions for referees (2022 edition)
UEFA Convention on Referee Education and Organisation – Edition 2026