Bournemouth VAR Offside Check Frustrates Fans

VAR Controversy: Why Did Bournemouth’s Offside Check Take 8 Minutes? ⚽⏳

Introduction: A New Record for VAR Delays 📢

Football fans witnessed one of the longest-ever VAR delays during Bournemouth's FA Cup fifth-round clash against Wolves. The eight-minute stoppage left spectators frustrated and reignited debates over the efficiency of semi-automated offside technology.

But what exactly caused the delay? And how does this compare to other VAR controversies in football history? Let's break it down.

What Happened? The Controversial Bournemouth Offside Call 📺🚨

On March 1, 2025, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez thought he had scored in the 35th minute against Wolves. However, the celebration was cut short as VAR officials began reviewing the goal.

Why Did It Take So Long?

🔴 Congested Penalty Area: The new semi-automated offside system struggled to identify player positions due to multiple bodies obstructing the camera's view.

🔴 Manual VAR Lines: Since the system couldn’t provide a clear decision, officials reverted to drawing lines manually, significantly extending the delay.

🔴 Multiple Handball Checks: VAR also reviewed whether Dean Huijsen had handled the ball before determining the offside call.

Eventually, the goal was disallowed because Huijsen was marginally offside when the ball brushed his shoulder.

📢 Fan Reactions:

As minutes ticked by, frustration boiled over in the stadium. Wolves and Bournemouth fans united in protest, chanting:

🗣️ “It’s not football anymore!”

🗣️ “This is embarrassing!”

The lengthy pause disrupted the match’s momentum, and players were seen redoing warm-up drills to stay focused.

Breaking the Previous VAR Record 🏆⏱️

Before this incident, the longest VAR delay in English football was 5 minutes 37 seconds during a West Ham vs. Aston Villa match in March 2024.

But Bournemouth vs. Wolves shattered that record, making it the longest-ever VAR stoppage in English football history.

What is Semi-Automated Offside Technology? ⚙️📡

The semi-automated offside system was designed to speed up decisions. Here's how it works:

✅ 30 new tracking cameras at each Premier League stadium.

✅ Captures movements at 100 frames per second (twice as fast as broadcast cameras).

✅ Tracks 10,000 points per player, ensuring precise positioning.

✅ Uses AI to draw instantaneous offside lines.

However, in this case, the system failed, forcing a return to the older manual method.

Historical Context: VAR Controversies Over the Years 📜⚖️

VAR has been at the center of controversy since its introduction. Here are some of the biggest VAR incidents in football history:

1️⃣ 2022 World Cup – Japan vs. Spain 🇯🇵⚽🇪🇸

Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma appeared to cross the ball out of play before setting up the winning goal.

After four-minute VAR review, FIFA confirmed the ball was barely in play—leading to Spain's elimination.

2️⃣ Liverpool vs. Tottenham (2023) 🟥❌

Luis Díaz's goal was wrongly disallowed due to a VAR communication error.

The PGMOL (Premier League referees’ body) later admitted the decision was incorrect.

3️⃣ Aston Villa vs. Sheffield United (2020) 🧤🚨

Goal-line technology failed to detect a clear goal.

VAR did not intervene, and the goal was not awarded, costing Sheffield United valuable points.

These incidents highlight the ongoing flaws in video technology despite its intended purpose of ensuring fairness.

Player & Manager Reactions 🎙️⚽

Bournemouth Manager Andoni Iraola: "I'm Very Disappointed" 😠

Iraola criticized the referees and the delayed implementation of semi-automated offsides, stating:

> 🗣️ “They told us they would introduce it after the first or second international break. But now, in the first game we need it, it goes against us.”

Wolves Manager Vitor Pereira: "Football is Fairer Now" ✅

While acknowledging the delay was frustrating, Pereira emphasized:

🗣️ “Before, a lot of offside goals stood. Now, we wait and get correct decisions.”

Martin Keown (BBC Pundit): "This is Outrageous!" 😡

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was furious about the long stoppage:

> 🗣️ “VAR was meant to be quick! It’s taking the joy out of the game.”

Clearly, opinions remain divided on whether VAR is truly helping football.

The Bigger Picture: Is VAR Killing the Passion of Football? 💔⚽

VAR was introduced to make football fairer, but it has also brought:

❌ Frustrating Delays – Long stoppages break momentum.

❌ Confusing Decisions – Inconsistencies in calls spark debate.

❌ Lost Spontaneity – Players hesitate to celebrate goals.

💡 What Can Be Done?

To improve VAR and preserve football’s excitement, FIFA and the FA should consider:

🔹 Strict time limits on VAR decisions (e.g., 90-second max for offside calls).

🔹 Better communication with fans in stadiums.

🔹 Further automation to minimize human errors.

Future of VAR in the Premier League 🔮📊

The Premier League plans to fully implement semi-automated offside technology later this season. The system is already used in the Champions League, La Liga, and Serie A, but its reliability remains under scrutiny.

With growing frustration from fans, managers, and players, football’s governing bodies must strike a balance between accuracy and entertainment.

Final Thoughts: VAR Needs to Evolve ⚖️🏆

The eight-minute VAR stoppage in Bournemouth vs. Wolves will go down in history as one of the most frustrating moments in English football.

⚠️ Key Takeaways:

✅ VAR was supposed to be faster—but it failed in a crucial moment.

✅ Fans and players were left frustrated by the long stoppage.

✅ The system must be improved to maintain the flow of the game.

With the Premier League set to roll out semi-automated offside technology, fans can only hope future decisions are quicker and clearer.

What do you think? Is VAR ruining football, or does it make the game fairer? Let us know in the comments! 👇⚽