VAR: Was he or wasn’t he offside?

One of the most annoying aspects of the last two seasons of VAR use was waiting for the “man behind the curtain” to decide if a player was “marginally” offside. Was it it by an eye lash, or a big toe? Actually, some were too close to call, Well, thankfully, the Premier League, and its referees, recognized the process needed to be revamped for the 2021/2022 season.

Here is the new process to be implemented this season. Our source is the Premier League website.

“We have effectively reintroduced the benefit of the doubt to the attacking player,” says Mike Riley, Managing Director of Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the referees’ body.  

“So in a really close offside situation we carry on following the same processes that we did last year with VAR. We apply the one-pixel lines, placing the defending line and then the attacking line.

“We then put on the thicker broadcast lines and where they overlap, those situations will now be deemed as onside.   

“So effectively, what we give back to the game is 20 goals that were disallowed last season.”

There will also be a difference in how VAR decisions on potential offsides will be conveyed to TV viewers.  

In the first two seasons of VAR, the Premier League displayed the whole process of the VAR determining the offside call to broadcasters, who could share with viewers.

For 2021/22, all that will be shared with viewers is the final image confirming the decision of offside or not.

This process is similar to the one in place at UEFA Euro 2020 and other international competitions. 

Sounds good. Let’s see how it works.

Gunner1953