Capello labels referees ‘a mafia’ and suggests a solution for VAR
MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 20: Fabio Capello appears in the Sporting Mixed Zone prior to the Laureus World Sports Awards Madrid 2025 at Palacio De Cibeles on April 20, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images for Laureus)
Former head coach of Milan, Real Madrid, Roma, Juventus, and the England national team, Fabio Capello, has criticized the quality of officiating in modern football, describing officials as ‘a mafia’. He offers a singular suggestion on how to improve VAR: ‘Incorporate a former player into the process’. Capello criticizes officiating standards: ‘A mafia’Capello participated in a comprehensive interview with Spanish publication Marca, sharing his insights from his tenure at Real Madrid along with various other subjects. He was prompted to express his views on the current refereeing climate, particularly noting the growing frequency of mistakes associated with VAR decisions. “Let it go, let it go, this is a subject that makes me very upset,” Capello stated. Fabio Capello (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)“Referees operate like a mafia. They are resistant to having any former players engaged with VAR, those who understand the nuances in football, the movements players make to protect themselves, and so forth. “Frequently, they produce flawed decisions due to their lack of playing experience, failing to recognize these subtleties. “A player might be lightly touched on the face, collapses to the ground, and they blow the whistle. But what’s the rationale? If I’m standing at 1.90m and the other player is 1.75m, my arm is at the same level as his face. Why would a whistle be blown? It drives me insane. Insane.” ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 07: Mario Gila of Lazio receives a red card from referee Michael Fabbri during the Serie A clash between SS Lazio and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Olimpico on December 07, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)Capello contends that including at least one ex-player in the VAR management room would significantly improve the accuracy of refereeing reviews. “Have one (former player) in there, advising the referee: ‘I don’t perceive it as a penalty’ or ‘I do’. In collaboration with UEFA, we evaluated 20 situations where penalties were assigned. When these instances were reassessed by former players and coaches, only six were upheld as penalties while 14 were deemed not to be.”
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Published: 2026-01-05 10:04:00
source: football-italia.net
