Daniele Orsato, in his inaugural season as the refereeing designator for Serie A and Serie B, has articulated his vision for officiating, aiming for a clear differentiation between genuine infringements and mere physical contact during play.

Speaking to Rai Radio 1, as reported by Corriere dello Sport, the former referee stated, "We will train to penalize fouls, not contact in play," establishing this as the core principle for the upcoming season.

He elaborated on the current focus: "These are intensive days; we are dedicated to studying each referee's individual profile. Our objective is to provide clear directives for younger officials, enhance their physical conditioning, and re-establish technical proficiency."

Orsato Addresses Controversial Penalties and Diving

The new designator also commented on two persistent issues in Italian football: the awarding of questionable penalties, often termed 'rigorini,' and instances of simulation.

"We will adhere strictly to the rules and work on rectifying our errors to minimize the number of incorrect decisions. The dedication and commitment of my team will be unwavering," he assured. Regarding simulation, Orsato pledged thorough observation: "We will monitor everything. This is an aspect that is thankfully decreasing."

Orsato highlighted Maurizio Mariani, the sole Italian official at the World Cup, as an exemplar. "His three excellent performances at the World Cup position him as our on-field guide and an inspiration for the less experienced referees," he commented.

When asked about the World Cup officiating, he was commendatory, specifically praising Slavko Vincic's performance in the final. He chose to avoid commentary on the Balogun controversy, stating, "I did not delve into that matter. These are issues beyond my purview."

These pronouncements signal a new direction for Italian refereeing, which will also incorporate VAR reviews for incorrectly awarded corners and second yellow cards next season—a UEFA-influenced change that Orsato is tasked with implementing.

English Translation

Orsato Sets Out Refereeing Approach: ‘We’ll Punish Fouls, Not Contact’

Daniele Orsato has laid out the officiating strategy he intends to implement during his first season as the Serie A and Serie B refereeing designator, promising a distinct approach to genuine fouls versus incidental contact.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the former referee shared his philosophy with Rai Radio 1, stating, "We will train to penalize fouls, not contact in play," setting the guiding principle for the upcoming campaign.

"These are intense days; we are working to study the individual profiles of each referee. We are seeking clear guidelines for the younger officials, we will focus on the athletic aspect, and return to being technically strong."

Orsato Addresses Soft Penalties and Simulation

The new designator also touched upon two ongoing debates in Italian football: the awarding of soft penalties, or 'rigorini,' and diving.

"We will follow the rules and work on our mistakes to get as few wrong as possible; the good faith and commitment of my team will be total," he remarked. On simulation, he pledged vigilance: "We will monitor everything. This is an aspect that is on the decline."

Orsato pointed to Maurizio Mariani, the only Italian official at the World Cup, as a benchmark. "He delivered three very strong performances at the World Cup; he will be our guide on the pitch and an example for the younger ones," he said.

When asked about the officiating at the tournament, he was complimentary, praising Slavko Vincic's display in the final, while sidestepping the Balogun controversy: "I did not take an interest in that subject. These are situations bigger than me."

His remarks signify the dawn of a new era in Italian officiating, which will also see VAR used to review wrongly awarded corners and second yellow cards next season, a UEFA-inspired shift that Orsato has been tasked with implementing.