Why the Eight-Minute Bournemouth VAR Check Sparked a Football Debate

The Football Association has revealed that an unprecedented eight-minute VAR stoppage during Bournemouth's FA Cup victory over Wolves was due to a congested penalty area. This incident occurred during the trial of the semi-automated offside system in English football, designed to make decisions in just 30 seconds.

During the 35th minute, Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez's goal was disallowed after a lengthy review. The VAR officials, Timothy Wood and Darren England, had to manually draw lines as the semi-automated system could not be utilized. Additionally, they conducted two separate checks for possible handballs, complicating the process.

The extended stoppage led to frustration among fans, with both Bournemouth and Wolves supporters expressing their discontent through chants like 'it's not football any more' and 'this is embarrassing.' Referee Sam Barrott took the time to explain the delay to the managers and players on the pitch, some of whom resumed their warm-up routines.

This check surpassed the previous longest VAR review in the Premier League, which lasted five minutes and 37 seconds during a match between West Ham and Aston Villa in March 2024. The FA has since explained that while most offside decisions will be quicker under the new system, manual reviews may still be necessary in complex scenarios.

The introduction of semi-automated offsides in the Premier League was delayed last year. The system was successfully used in the FA Cup match between Aston Villa and Cardiff, marking its debut in English football. However, it is only being implemented in seven of the eight FA Cup fifth-round ties due to technological limitations at Championship club Preston.

The Premier League has announced plans to adopt the semi-automated offside system later this season, following its successful trial in the FA Cup. This technology is already in use in the Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, and was utilized during the 2022 World Cup.

Feedback from former England goalkeeper Rob Green highlighted the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of the new system. Despite the advancements, the lengthy VAR check during the Bournemouth-Wolves match suggests that further refinements are necessary to streamline the decision-making process in football.