Fulham’s Silva Questions VAR Decision on Wirtz’s Controversial Goal

Florian Wirtz’s goal drew Liverpool level in the second half during their match against Fulham, prompting manager Marco Silva to address the controversy surrounding the decision.

Wirtz’s 57th-minute strike was initially flagged offside, yet after a review by the video assistant referee (VAR), the goal was allowed to stand, bringing the score to 1-1. The match ultimately ended in a 2-2 draw, with both teams scoring during stoppage time. Silva criticized the decision, labeling Wirtz’s goal as “a clear offside” and has sought clarification from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

“The club is trying to make contact with PGMOL; however, we have yet to receive any feedback,” Silva stated. Dialogue between Fulham and PGMOL is anticipated, as part of PGMOL’s ongoing efforts to engage with clubs, led by chief Howard Webb.

After reviewing various images since the match, Silva voiced his disbelief regarding the officials’ decision. “We are still awaiting feedback from the Premier League and PGMOL, as it is crucial for us to understand their reasoning.”

He continued, expressing that the lack of explanation has left many, including his coaching staff, players, and fans, puzzled. “If you were to ask all Premier League clubs, I believe they would share a similar sentiment. Those who love football would likely agree with my perspective.”

Interestingly, Wirtz himself had anticipated an offside call, stating to Sky Sports, “I was convinced it was offside, so I did not even celebrate.”

The goal was confirmed as valid because positions are evaluated with a tolerance level of approximately 5 centimeters (1.95 inches). This tolerance was introduced to account for inaccuracies in offside technology previously used, allowing for marginally offside players to be ruled onside when this threshold is applied.

The Premier League has maintained this tolerance level even after transitioning to the current semi-automated offside system. Another crucial aspect of the VAR process is the choice of frame used to determine offside; VAR is presented with three frames and selects the first one that shows contact with the ball, which is not necessarily the moment the ball is kicked.

In Wirtz’s situation, the VAR selected one frame, while television broadcasters showed another, where Wirtz appeared to be more clearly offside. This discrepancy has not satisfied Silva, who argued, “I cannot quantify it precisely, but to me, it looks significantly more than 5 centimeters. When observing the moment of the pass, it is evident that the player was clearly offside.”

Silva also raised concerns regarding the application of the tolerance level, recalling a past incident involving Emile Smith Rowe’s disallowed goal against Crystal Palace, questioning, “Where was the narrative about the 5-centimeter tolerance when we scored against Palace? In that case, it was likely just 1 or 2 centimeters offside.”

This ongoing discussion highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding VAR decisions in football.