In Brief (TL;DR)
Paolo Casarin launches an alarm regarding the excessive use of VAR in Serie A, arguing that technology is now distorting the very essence of Italian soccer.
The former designator harshly criticizes the management of Napoli-Verona, where the prolonged intervention of technology overrode the referee’s authority regarding the penalty granted.
Praise goes instead to the refereeing courage seen in Milan-Genoa, with a penalty awarded against the hosts in an incandescent finale.
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It is a fiery Friday for Italian soccer, and not just because of the standings, which see Inter attempting a breakaway and Milan chasing tooth and nail. Today, January 9, 2026, the columns of Corriere della Sera host a piece destined to cause debate for a long time: Paolo Casarin, a historic referee and authoritative voice of our sport, went in hard on the hottest topic of the moment: the use of technology in Serie A. With a tone that betrays a visceral love for this sport, Casarin launches a warning that sounds like a wake-up call for the entire movement: «They are changing soccer».
At the center of the controversy is the management of episodes in the last championship round, a matchday that gave us very strong emotions, heated polemics, and a debate that seems never-ending. If on one side there is severe criticism of a system that risks removing responsibility from the man on the field, on the other there is the exaltation of refereeing courage, that human quality that no machine can ever replicate. A fascinating dualism that keeps millions of fans glued to the screen, demonstrating that soccer is alive, well, and capable of igniting spirits like no other discipline in the world.
Napoli-Verona: When Technology Takes Command
The focal point of Casarin’s criticism concerns what happened at the Maradona during Napoli-Hellas Verona, which ended in a pyrotechnic 2-2 draw. According to the former designator, we are witnessing a genetic mutation of the game: «VAR rules like in Napoli», thundered Casarin. The reference is to the penalty episode granted to the Scaligeri for Buongiorno’s handball. A decision that, according to Casarin’s reading, referee Marchetti would not have made autonomously, but which was “imposed” by a long and complex monitor review.
For Casarin, the fact that the VAR (managed by Marini in that match, ed.) took so much time is proof that it was not a clear and obvious error. Technology, born as support, risks transforming into the hidden director of matches, removing fluidity and authority from the match director. It is a reflection that opens interesting scenarios: do we want aseptic and “television” soccer, or do we want to preserve the central referee’s human interpretation? The controversy inflames social media and sports bars, confirming that the passion for Serie A also passes through these endless discussions.
Milan-Genoa: The Praise of Courage at San Siro
But Casarin’s analysis is not only destructive. There is room for vibrant praise, an open applause for what was seen in Milan-Genoa. The match, ending 1-1 with Leao’s last-gasp save, experienced a heart-stopping finale with a penalty awarded to the Grifone in the 99th minute. Casarin defines Marini’s work (referring to the management of the key episode in the San Siro match) as «courageous» regarding the penalty granted against the home team in full stoppage time.
Whistling a penalty against Milan, at the Scala del Calcio, while the stadium is an infernal pit and the stopwatch marks almost the hundredth minute, requires nerves of steel. This is the type of refereeing Casarin would like to see always: decisive, strong, impervious to environmental pressures. Even though Stanciu then kicked that very heavy ball high, the decision remains an example of sporting integrity that deserves to be highlighted with enthusiasm. It is the demonstration that, despite everything, the man with the whistle can still be a positive protagonist.
Technology and Sport: A Necessary Comparison
The debate raised today leads us to reflect on how technology is impacting various disciplines differently. In F1 and MotoGP, telemetry and millimeter sensors are the very essence of competition; there is no room for interpretation there, pure data counts. Even in tennis, with Hawk-Eye, or in basketball with instant replay, technology serves to certify objective truths (in or out, time expired or not).
Soccer, however, is different. It is a contact sport, of complex dynamics, of “grey zones” where the intensity of a push or the congruity of an arm movement are not always measurable with a digital ruler. Even at the upcoming Olympics, we will see an increasingly massive use of hi-tech, but Casarin’s lesson is clear: we must not lose the soul of the game. Technology must serve the sport, not command it.
Rocchi’s Position and the Future
In this incandescent scenario, designator Gianluca Rocchi finds himself having to manage a precarious balance. According to the latest rumors reported also by Il Mattino, the refereeing officials evaluated the work of the referee team in Napoli-Verona positively, defending the choices made. A stance that, if on one hand protects the category, on the other risks further fueling the debate with the old guard represented by Casarin.
We are facing a philosophical clash even before a technical one. On one side, the search for absolute perfection (often illusory), on the other, the defense of the referee’s centrality. In the middle, us enthusiasts, who enjoy a spectacle that, between errors, feats, and polemics, never ceases to give us pure adrenaline.
Conclusions
Paolo Casarin’s words resonate as a powerful warning in this start of 2026. While Serie A runs fast towards the midway point, the refereeing theme remains central. Whether one agrees or not with the former referee, one thing is certain: the passion with which these episodes are discussed is the salt of our soccer. Between the courageous penalty at San Siro and the long VAR waits in Napoli, the championship continues to offer incredible stories. And as long as there is this enthusiasm in commenting, criticizing, and praising, Italian soccer will always have a radiant future ahead of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Former referee Paolo Casarin expressed strong concern regarding the impact of technology on modern soccer. According to his analysis, VAR is assuming a predominant role, transforming from simple support into a true hidden director of matches. Casarin argues that this excess of technology risks removing responsibility from the match director on the field, taking fluidity away from the game and authority away from the human element, especially when monitor reviews require very long times for episodes that are not extremely clear.
The main criticism raised by Casarin concerns the management of the penalty granted to Verona for a handball. The former designator believes that the decision was not made autonomously by referee Marchetti but was effectively imposed by a long and complex VAR review. According to Casarin, if technology takes too much time to analyze an episode, it means it is not a clear and obvious error, and therefore the external intervention ends up commanding over the perception of the field, distorting the dynamics of the game.
In contrast to the criticisms leveled at other matches, Casarin openly praised the work of referee Marini during Milan-Genoa. He defined the choice to whistle a penalty kick against the home team at the ninety-ninth minute, in an incandescent San Siro stadium, as courageous. This episode is cited as a positive example of integrity and refereeing personality, demonstrating that the man with the whistle can still be a protagonist by making difficult and unpopular decisions without being conditioned by the surrounding environment.
Despite the critical observations of historic figures like Casarin, the official position of the refereeing leadership seems to be defensive. Designator Gianluca Rocchi and the referees association reportedly evaluated the work of the referee teams in the contested matches, including the Napoli one, positively. This creates a philosophical opposition between the old guard, which defends the centrality of human interpretation, and the current management, which seems to focus more on the technical precision guaranteed by technological tools.
Sources and Further Reading
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