Your Route to Real News

Controversial Coventry offside call could change next season amid VAR reforms

1411     0
Haji Wright was adjudged to be offside in the build-up to Coventry
Haji Wright was adjudged to be offside in the build-up to Coventry's late goal (Image: ITV)

Manchester United had VAR to thank after they benefited from the narrowest of offside calls to reach the FA Cup final – but they might not be so lucky next season.

United beat Coventry 4-2 on penalties after a remarkable 3-3 draw in the semi-final at Wembley on Sunday. Erik ten Hag’s side had been cruising at 3-0 thanks to goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes, only to be dragged into extra-time by a Coventry comeback.

Ellis Simms, Callum O’Hare and Haji Wright all scored before Victor Torp appeared to have won it for the Sky Blues in the 121st minute. The Coventry substitute tucked home from Wright’s cross, only for VAR to rule it out for offside against the American in the build-up and puncture the jubilant scenes in the stands.

Wright was narrowly beyond Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the last United defender, when O’Hare played the ball through to him. It was a heartbreaking moment for Coventry, who then lost on spot-kicks as Andre Onana saved from O’Hare and Ben Sheaf blazed over the bar.

“We deserved to go through, we were 20 seconds away and a toenail offside, it's ridiculous,” Coventry boss Mark Robins said. “Had he [Haji Wright] cut his toe nail, it wouldn't have gone to penalties.”

Premier League odds and betting tips qhiddxidqriqprwPremier League odds and betting tips

The PGMOL have defended the offside decision amid a backlash led by Coventry fans, who have claimed it was wrong because the line was not drawn correctly from Wan-Bissaka’s foot. The unhappiness is understandable from the defeated Championship side – and they might not want to hear that they could have gone through to face Manchester City in the final had next season’s technology been in place already.

Currently, VAR uses Hawk-Eye technology to judge offsides: the VAR manually picks the point on the last defender and the attacker for the lines to be drawn automatically. Next season, however, things are changing, with the Premier League adopting semi-automated offside technology (SAOT), which has been used at the Qatar World Cup, as well as in the Champions League and Serie A, at some point in the 2024/25 season, depending on when the contracts get sorted.

Controversial Coventry offside call could change next season amid VAR reformsVictor Torp thought he had scored the winner for Coventry (Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

The Premier League announced earlier in April that its clubs had voted through the change, which will also see SAOT used in the FA Cup at Premier League grounds and at Wembley. SAOT uses 10 bespoke cameras and AI technology to track all 22 players via 29 data points on their bodies so it knows their exact positions at all times.

SAOT is semi-automated so it won’t require a VAR to choose the point from which to draw the line – only to validate that the kick point and offside line are accurate. The process, which works at 50 frames per second, should be much quicker than the current one – and could prevent outrage like with the Wright offside call.

HAVE YOUR SAY! What do you make of the changes? Comment below.

Controversial Coventry offside call could change next season amid VAR reformsThe SAOT system would show offside calls like this (FIFA)

That’s because, rather than showing fans a blue and red line from whatever angle the TV camera uses, it will take them in line and provide a much clearer illustration of the decision. It definitely won’t eliminate the “toenail” decisions, but it should at least get rid of the uncertainty – and conspiracy theories – surrounding the drawing the lines.

The PGMOL have insisted that Wright was in an offside position when the ball was played to him – and more people might have been convinced if there was more faith in the system and had they been given the view that comes with SAOT.

and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our

Felix Keith

Print page

Comments:

comments powered by Disqus