BOURNEMOUTH, England — During Saturday’s FA Cup match between Bournemouth and Wolves, a decision using the video-assistant referee (VAR) system took an unexpectedly long duration of more than seven minutes. This incident occurred despite the competition trialing a new semi-automatic offside system designed to speed up decision-making.
The issue arose when Milos Kerkez appeared to extend Bournemouth’s lead to 2-0 during the first half with a header following a corner kick. However, the ball inadvertently deflected off his teammate, Dean Huijsen, who was in an offside position, before crossing the goal line.
This match marked the introduction of a semi-automatic offside technology in English football, beginning in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Despite its availability, the BBC mentioned that the innovative system could not be utilized for this particular incident because there was also a potential handball that required review. Consequently, traditional VAR methods were employed to assess the situation manually, culminating in the disallowance of the goal a full seven minutes after it was scored.
During the delay, fans from both sides noticeably voiced their frustration with chants of “It’s not football anymore,” illustrating their dissatisfaction with the prolonged interruption.
Criticism of the VAR system is not unprecedented, as it is often blamed for causing significant stoppages during play. However, it is uncommon for reviews to extend beyond a few minutes. The newly introduced semi-automated offside system is intended to streamline these decisions, particularly reducing them to an average of 31 seconds according to officials.
The match eventually proceeded to extra time after Wolves’ player Matheus Cunha netted an equalizer, leveling the score at 1-1 in the second half.
