Liverpool have been warned that VAR’s lengthy delay at the end of the 3-1 victory over Leicester City is the price that has to be paid for accuracy in the Premier League. Supporters were left frustrated late on when Cody Gakpo’s goal was ruled out for an offside against Darwin Nunez in the build-up.
The decision took three minutes to eventually decide on before the Stockley Park officials decided to agree with the on-field call. Soon after the incident, the Premier League took to social media to explain that the check had found Nunez to be in the offside position.
Many fans have been left calling for semi-automated offsides to be introduced in the aftermath of this delay. This technology uses motion senses and cameras to adjudge whether a player is on or off.
Analysing the decision on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher explained the delay was due to checks on Mohamed Salah’s position too. Despite the time taken, Gallagher was keen to stress that semi-automated offsides should not be rushed through.
“There were two checks, that’s why it took so long,” he explained. “People say it’s infuriating, but this is what the people asked for.
“Now you’ve given them the technology to get the decision right, this is the process, this is what we’re told, this is what we’ve seen. We have come a long way in five years from where we were, we’ve got far more accurate decisions.
“It is much, much better. Semi-automated offsides is a work in progress.
“Maybe if it’s going to take a long time, maybe wait until next season. When this is rolled out, it has to be 100 per cent, right now there are little tweaks needed.”
Semi-automated offsides have been used in major international tournaments and have proven to be quick at making decisions. However, 2025 is now the earliest that we expect to see it being used in the Premier League.
