Italian football has long had a complicated relationship with technology, but the 2025/26 season has pushed that tension to a definitive breaking point.
Following a weekend of high-profile errors and a growing chorus of fury from some of the league’s biggest managers, Serie A President Ezio Simonelli has officially called for an emergency meeting on March 23, 2026.
The summit, which will include club presidents, coaches, and referee designator Gianluca Rocchi, aims to address what many are calling a “systemic failure” in the current VAR protocol.
With over 1,080 interventions already recorded this season, the debate is no longer about whether technology belongs in football, but whether the people operating it are capable of maintaining the league’s integrity.
The Kalulu Incident: A Catalyst for Change
The current firestorm was ignited during the recent Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus.
Referee Federico La Penna showed a second yellow card to Juve defender Pierre Kalulu for a challenge on Alessandro Bastoni.
Despite replays clearly showing zero contact, the VAR was unable to intervene because current protocols strictly forbid reviewing second yellow cards.
“We have reached a point of no return,” stated Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini.
“The scene has been tainted, and it is absurd that technology exists but is handcuffed by its own rules.”
President Simonelli echoed these sentiments, noting that Italy had warned the International Football Association Board (IFAB) that the protocol was “inadequate.”
The March 23 meeting is expected to pressure the FIGC into lobbying for “Coach Challenges” and the ability for VAR to review any card that results in a player being sent off.
Antonio Conte and the “Unreliable” Protocol
It isn’t just Juventus fuming. Napoli manager Antonio Conte launched a scathing attack on officiating standards following recent setbacks in both the Coppa Italia and Serie A.
Conte’s frustration peaked after a goal from Miguel Gutiérrez was overturned for a marginal foul in the build-up – a decision that Conte labeled “detrimental to the sport.”
“It’s certainly not a good season for referees,” Conte told Sport Mediaset.
“Everyone is complaining – coaches, players, and fans. Just as we improve our teams, they have to improve the officials. It’s not good for football.”
Staggering Stats: 1,080 VAR Interventions and Counting
The numbers behind the controversy are staggering. In the 2018-2019 season, VAR intervened just 56 times. This season, that number has skyrocketed to over 1,000, with 68% of those corrections being related to goals.
| Metric | 2018-2019 Season | 2025-2026 Season (To Date) |
| Total VAR Interventions | 56 | 1,080+ |
| Goal Corrections | ~40% | 68% |
| Average Review Time | 82 Seconds | 145 Seconds |
Critics argue that the frequency of reviews is killing the “flow” of the Italian game, turning every goal celebration into a period of anxious waiting.
Former midfielder Riccardo Montolivo summed up the mood perfectly: “The VAR referee currently has more power than the one on the pitch. It’s a mess.”
As the Scudetto race enters its final third, the pressure on Gianluca Rocchi and his team of officials has never been higher.
All eyes are now on the March 23 summit to see if Serie A can fix its technological soul before the season concludes in chaos.
Meanwhile, AC Milan legend Marcel Desailly has had his say on the current state of Serie A.
