During the Fulham vs Liverpool match that ended 2-2, Florian Wirtz scored for Liverpool in the 57th minute, only for the assistant referee to initially flag offside. After a prolonged VAR check, the goal was awarded, sparking debate due to apparent marginal positioning.
Former elite referee Andy Davies explains how semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) led to this outcome and why the same incident would likely be ruled differently in UEFA competitions.
How the Incident Unfolded and VAR Intervention
Wirtz received a pass in the Fulham box and finished calmly past Bernd Leno, but assistant Lee Betts raised the flag for offside. Referee Craig Pawson disallowed the goal on field, with Andrew Madley as VAR.
The review took considerable time as SAOT analyzed the phase. Ultimately, the system confirmed Wirtz was onside, overturning the decision and allowing Liverpool’s equalizer to stand.
To the naked eye and on standard replays, Wirtz appeared slightly ahead of the last defender, making the initial flag seem correct.
Key Differences Between Premier League and European SAOT Systems
The Premier League employs Genius Sports SAOT, introduced toward the end of the 2024-25 season, which includes a 5-centimeter tolerance level. This “thicker line” approach favors attackers in tight calls, aiming to reduce marginal disallowances and promote more goals.
In contrast, UEFA Champions League and many top European leagues use millimeter-precise measurement without tolerance.
In this case, Wirtz fell within the Premier League’s tolerance band, rendering him onside. The same positioning in a Champions League fixture would result in offside, disallowing the goal.
Despite automation, human oversight remains for confirming the exact kick point, contributing to the delay as VAR adjusted frames for accuracy.
Similar tolerance applications benefited players like Bruno Guimarães for Newcastle and Gabriel Gudmundsson for Leeds in recent months.
