07 Jan 2026 09:44:11
It kindae got lost a little but further down the page there is a discussion with ed1 talking about the tolerance for Wirtz goal and him being offside.
I think we would all be furious if the goal was given against us. I agree he looked very much offside. I even agree with having a 50mm tolerance to give the benefit of the doubt to the attacker and promote more goals.
What I cannot understand is how this seems to be the first time it has been used in the four years since in was introduced.
07 Jan 2026 10:03:29
If there is a tolerance then surely it needs a linesman decision equivalent like Cricket?
I was always led to believe it was black and white. But one thing football was lacking is officiating grey areas so it's great to see one added to the game.
07 Jan 2026 10:07:22
Definitely looked offside to me.
07 Jan 2026 10:07:51
Can't help but feel the technology failed and rather than admit that they just all pretended it was onside and everyone's eyes don't work.
VAR continues to be both sucking any fun out of the game and a complete joke at the same time.
07 Jan 2026 10:08:29
My guide dog says it was never a goal in a million years,
07 Jan 2026 10:13:20
KD7, I knew about this feature a couple of years back but simply did not know what distances they were using.
As a result, I don't think it is the first time it is being used. I think it was already being used prior esp. since all the clubs knew about it and approved of it.
The fact that us fans are hearing about it fully for the first time does not mean it wasn't being used esp. with the semi AI offside system being used now, which incorporates this feature. Just my opinion.
07 Jan 2026 10:45:03
At least 4 inches off, absolutely no doubt. If that goal was given against us I'd be furious.
07 Jan 2026 11:05:23
This goal was discussed by Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd on referee watch. The guidelines have been in place for I think for 4 years. If I remember correctly there is also a tolerance as to the exact time of the pass.
as we never see the pass just the players position. Also this is not the first time the rule has been implemented.
Another thought we tend to use the lines in the turf as an indicator, but how accurate are they.
07 Jan 2026 11:13:57
Well either the lines on the pitch were off or the technology was off because it looked clearly offside if you go by the lines on the pitch.
I've often thought this though, we tend to judge offsides by the cut of the grass as we assume this is perfectly parallel to the goal line. But what if the groundsman has made an error and his lines are slightly off? I know Ed1 has said the tolerances of the lawn mowing is less than the tolerances of the technology but what if the bloke mowing the grass has simply made a small error? I have seen a picture (not sure if it was doctored) that shows the cut of the grass is not perfectly parallel to the 6 yard line suggesting that Wirtz was at least level.
I thought Fulham's first goal looked extremely tight too using the lines on the pitch but the technology had him clearly onside.
I do agree though if that goal had gone against us we'd all be fuming but wasn't there one with Haaland a few weeks ago where the technology showed his foot in the air and onside but the still pictures showed has foot was planted and offside?
The semi automated offside is obviously not fool proof which is a shame given there's a load of fools operating it.
{Ed001's Note - they said it was offside but within tolerance. Personally I think they should go with the decision on the pitch if they are not sure. I know that would have ruled it offside, but they have said they think it was off too but just not by enough to be sure of the tech.}
07 Jan 2026 11:25:34
I actually don't mind it being given and wouldn't if it was the other way around, I think there should be a tolerance and the benefit of the doubt given to the attacker, more goal in games is a good thing.
What I do care about is the inconsistency, I have never heard of this tolerance before and we fully know that other goals of the same amount will be given offside in other games.
07 Jan 2026 11:29:47
For those of us who remember Diaz disallowed goal against Spurs, VAR mistakes are just part of the game now.
You win some, you lose some.
They should be using AI and VAR should only be used by manager appeals looking for specific errors.
Everything else should be as per on the field.
07 Jan 2026 11:42:20
I have never understood the idea of tolerance on what should be black and white decisions. All you are ever doing is moving the point of offside but you will still have marginal contentious decisions regardless.
Like all the people who say ah it was only his toe that was off so we should allow for that, okay so we move the line and then next ah we'll it is only part of his metatarsal that is over the line that should be given. It would just repeat over and over.
I am still with others that looks plain as day offside but it is close and in fairness the offside part of VAR has been 99+% accurate apart from the couple of obvious noteworthy blunders. I don't think it is anywhere near the biggest problem in football currently from a refereeing or rules stand point.
07 Jan 2026 11:57:34
We should not compare the accuracy of a line drawn by a man pushing a lawnmower versus a line drawn by a person computer using a grid. It should be a no brainer.
Unfortunately, the persons using VAR draw lines akin to Mr Messy.
{Ed001's Note - you do realise they don't mow like that any more? They have GPS steering the mower, so it should be accurate within millimetres.}
07 Jan 2026 12:17:23
Ed, they should have simply said it was offside based on the feature in place and moved on rather than with the way you said they described it. Just causes too much chaos and loose ends, IMO.
07 Jan 2026 12:46:52
I think they should just scrap var altogether, its ruining the game.
07 Jan 2026 15:17:44
Yes VAR shld be scrapped.
It just feels like it is fueling corruption, with PGMOL coming out with new terms to justify the shocking decisions week after week.
The old offside system, at least they still shows the process of drawing lines. Although where they draw the lines is debatable. Armpit offside, toenail offside canes to mind.
But now they do not even show you the lines. The 3D images shown, they can just conveniently show us what they want us to see.
My personal opinion but I believe there is definitely some form of corruption in the game.
07 Jan 2026 16:17:03
The var for Wirtz goal shows a line but it does not show when the ball left Jones boot the var is when the ball reaches Wirtz . and the ball has traveled several feet . You are not offside until the ball leaves the players boot! YNWA.