No VAR Mistake on Wirtz’s ‘Offside’ Goal, Says Panel
VAR Decision Confirmed by Premier League Panel
The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel has concluded that there was no error made by the video assistant referee (VAR) in awarding Florian Wirtz’s goal for Liverpool during their match against Fulham.
Liverpool found themselves trailing 1-0 at Craven Cottage when Wirtz capitalized on a pass from Conor Bradley to score in the 57th minute, prompting the assistant referee to signal offside against him immediately.
VAR Intervention
VAR operator Andy Madley intervened to validate the goal after utilizing semi-automated offside technology (SAOT). The technology provided a five-centimeter buffer, often referred to as ‘thicker lines,’ specifically used in the Premier League for marginal offside situations.
Had the goal been scored in leagues like Germany, Italy, or Spain, it would likely have been ruled out, as these countries do not implement any margin for error.
Controversy Surrounding the Decision
The decision sparked controversy, with many viewers believing the images broadcast showed Wirtz clearly offside relative to the last defender. Nevertheless, the KMI Panel supported Madley’s call, asserting: “The VAR intervention to award the goal was deemed correct, given the narrow offside margin and the thicker lines allocated for these precise situations.”
The match eventually ended in a 2-2 draw. However, Fulham’s manager Marco Silva described Wirtz’s goal as a “clear offside” and requested further clarification regarding the decision. Silva revealed that the club has reached out to the Professional Game Match Officials to express their concerns.
Explanation of the Discrepancy
According to information from BBC Sport, the confusion stemmed from the frame choice made by the broadcaster. The VAR chose the moment when Bradley made contact with the ball, whereas the broadcaster displayed a frame from when the ball had already left his foot. This discrepancy painted Wirtz as being in a more advantageous position than he actually was.
