PREMIER LEAGUE fans were furious after they saw a goal ruled out for offside by VAR – despite the technology having a key feature out of action.
The Premier League announced before kick-off that the semi-automated offside system that debuted in the league this year would not be in operation for the Bees’ visit to West Ham‘s London Stadium due to Monday’s global AWS outage.
And as luck would have it, this lack of availability would become pivotal in the game, as VAR was called into action in the first period.
The visitors were on the verge of carrying a 1-0 lead into the half-time break after a dominant start to the game.
But that was when star striker Igor Thiago shrugged off Jean-Clair Todibo and slotted past Alphonse Areola in net to double his side’s advantage.
The Brazilian wheeled off in celebration, but the goal quickly came under scrutiny for a potential offside in the build up.
CRASH TRAGEDY
England icon Stuart Pearce’s son, 21, killed in tractor crash
WILD OFFER
Win a Ford Transit Custom MS-RT plus £2,000 cash from just 17p with our code
As a result of the lack of the semi-automated technology, VAR was forced to revert to the old system of manually drawn lines to determine if the forward was in an illegal position.
There was already an initial disbelief that such an important part of VAR could be out of action for a Prem game.
One incensed fan said: “Watching this West Ham Brentford game and they are saying the semi automated offside technology is currently not working this half. SHAMBLES.”
But there was further frustration still at the nature of the offside call, punishing Thiago despite the fact he was only narrowly offside and was moving away from goal at the time the ball was kicked.
A second fan said: “That VAR call for the Brentford goal is not what football is about. Ruining the game.”
Another added: “VAR is ruining the game. That offside for Brentford there. Makes you sick.”
And a fourth chimed in: “VAR at its absolute worst here. That’s not even close to why the offside rule exists. If I was a Brentford fan my head would be on Mars.”
The Premier League announced after half-time that the issue had been resolved and that the semi-automated technology would be in operation for the second period.
Read the full article here
