Antonio Tempestilli and the VAR controversy: "It helps, but so too much discussion"

Antonio Tempestilli, Roma’s historical face both as a player (he wore the Giallorossi jersey between 1987 and 1993) and later as a coach and manager, breaks his silence on one of the most divisive issues of recent weeks: VAR. In an’exclusive interview with ‘Sololaroma.it’, the’former defender in the days of Nils Liedholm, Gigi Radice and Ottavio Bianchi did not reject the tool. If anything, in his opinion, it is the way of using it that needs to be perfected.

Marco Enzo Venturini

“VAR was created to facilitate referees, help and support them” said Tempestilli. According to which, therefore, we are not in the presence of a system to be abolished, but to be made more readable. “It is not clear when it should intervene and when it should not. Certainly the protocol is to be revised” he stressed. To then point out what is the element that triggers the most anger for fans, but also insiders: “The’inconsistency, no doubt”.

“Seeing an episode from the field or on television is different – however, Tempestilli pointed out to ‘Sololaroma.it’ -. We must always start from good faith, but I think it is necessary to make some changes to the protocol and regulations. The interpretation leaves room for too much discussion”. Yet there is one aspect in the protests against VAR that the Roma flagman does not share: “Creating alibis is not good, it does not help. We must continue to be stronger than the mistakes and move forward, without looking for excuses. It is right that, if there is something to point out, the managers do it in the appropriate ways and at the appropriate time”.

Not lacking from Tempestilli is an’analysis of the new Roma targata Gian Piero Gasperini. A team that the former defender believes already has a well-defined trademark: “It has proven to compete, without having to distort itself. This ownership, then, has invested a lot of money–perhaps in some cases not in the best way, but you cannot say it has not spent. I do not see a big problem”.

There is then an aspect that Gasperini had to deal with in the Giallorossi. “In important places like Rome, Milan or Naples, the pressure is considerable. You need fur on the stomach. Today with social media it is really difficult: what you read and say is often indescribable. The players then know who is stronger and who is less strong. And if an important player makes himself available to the group, it”s an advantage for everyone. This’last reference is to Donyell Malen: “He has characteristics that fit well with what the coach asks. But he has to be supported by the team: alone he can”t win games, says Antonio Tempestilli.