Serie A Open VAR To Be Scrapped Under AIA Reform At The End Of The 2025/26 Season | OneFootball

Open VAR is set to be scrapped at the end of the current Serie A season as the ambitious referee reform originally envisioned by the FIGC is scaled back significantly, with Italian football’s governing body lacking the political will and unity to push through sweeping changes.

According to La Repubblica, via FCInter1908, the planned overhaul of the AIA has effectively been shelved.

Serie A clubs are divided on the issue, with powerful figures including Lotito and De Laurentiis opposed to reform, and even those in favour acknowledging that the timing is wrong.

“You don’t carry out reforms a week before the playoffs,” one anonymous pro-reform director told the outlet.

Gravina Confirms Open VAR To Be Scrapped As Serie A Undergoes Referee Reform

The fate of Open VAR has been made clear by FIGC president Gravina.

Referees have reportedly felt humiliated by officials publicly acknowledging their mistakes on television, and the programme will be discontinued as a result.

The in-stadium VAR announcements and referee camera footage could also disappear.

Indeed, a significant step backward in the transparency drive that had been one of Italian football’s more progressive recent developments.

Leadership uncertainty clouds everything.

Gianluca Rocchi‘s contract expires in June and he is understood to be unwilling to stay.

Roberto Rosetti, the UEFA designator, is the FIGC’s preferred replacement.

However, bringing him back to Italy is considered extremely difficult. Until that picture clears, meaningful reform remains on hold.