Understanding VAR Decisions in the Premier League: A Closer Look

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has generated considerable controversy each week in the Premier League. This article aims to demystify how decisions are made and evaluate their accuracy.

This season, we are examining notable incidents to clarify the VAR protocol and its alignment with the Laws of the Game.

Andy Davies, a former Select Group referee with over 12 seasons of experience in elite football, provides valuable insights into VAR processes on match days. He has officiated matches in both the Premier League and Championship, offering a unique perspective on the rationale behind VAR decisions.

In a recent incident officiated by Craig Pawson, with VAR assistance from Andrew Madley, a key moment occurred at the 57-minute mark when Florian Wirtz’s goal was initially ruled out for offside.

Wirtz received a through ball inside the Fulham penalty area and successfully scored past goalkeeper Bernd Leno. However, assistant referee Lee Betts flagged him for offside, prompting a VAR review.

After a thorough examination, VAR established that Wirtz was in an onside position when the ball was played, ultimately recommending the goal be awarded.

Upon first glance, it appeared that Wirtz was offside, prompting many to agree with the assistant referee’s decision. Even the still images seemed to support the offside ruling. However, the Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) review yielded a contrasting conclusion.

Initially, VAR drew offside lines manually, but the implementation of SAOT during the latter part of the 2024-25 season allows for more precise judgment using tracking data rather than live footage. This advancement aims to enhance accuracy and efficiency during critical moments.

Interestingly, there are two crucial distinctions between the Premier League’s VAR process and that of other major European leagues and the UEFA Champions League (UCL). The Premier League employs Genius Sports’ SAOT system, which differs from the methods utilized in the UCL, where offside positions are measured to the millimeter. In contrast, the Premier League allows a tolerance level of 5 centimeters, theoretically favoring attacking teams by minimizing marginal offside decisions and promoting more goals.

The Wirtz incident exemplifies this difference; under the Premier League’s more lenient guidelines, Wirtz was deemed onside. Conversely, in a UCL context, where stricter regulations apply, he would have been ruled offside, leading to the disallowance of the goal.

Despite the technological advantages provided by SAOT, human judgment still plays a role in tight offside reviews, contributing to the duration of the VAR check at Fulham. The SAOT identifies the ‘Kick Point’—the precise moment the ball is played forward—but the VAR retains the authority to adjust this point if they are not satisfied with the initial assessment.

This human element likely contributed to the delay in the VAR review, as the officials sought clarity on the accuracy of the original decision.

Wirtz’s case is not an isolated incident; similar instances involving the SAOT tolerance level have impacted decisions in the Premier League, including Bruno Guimarães’ situation during Newcastle United’s goal against Manchester City and Gabriel Gudmundsson’s ruling during Leeds United’s match against Aston Villa.