UK Edition
It is clear that the technology being used to create the lines for offside VAR decisions does not have the accuracy that is required to produce such marginal calls.
In my view, we should dump the lines and just stick with the visuals, allowing the trained and skilful officials using the VAR system in Stockley Park to use their judgement and discretion.
There is a slight misunderstanding that these decisions are being made on the basis of an attacker's armpit being offside. That is not the case. The armpit is part of the underside of the arm, and the law is clear in that the hand or arm is not used when making these calls. But that should not cloud the bigger point that the technology we have is not equipped to decide ultra-fine calls.
Norwich, Crystal Palace and Brighton all had goals ruled out for incredibly marginal offsides at the weekend. In all three instances, it was almost impossible to discern whether there had been an infringement based on the replays shown and the lines that were drawn on the screen to highlight the offending player's position.
There is no doubt in my mind that had a referee been allowed to consult a pitchside monitor, and then had the final say, they would have allowed the goals to stand in all three examples.
This is a long way from what really is required or acceptable for the game as a spectacle. To rule out goals on such dubious margins is bad for the game, and was not the reason VAR was introduced.
We know that the technology is not sophisticated enough to be able to pinpoint the exact moment a pass is played, so how can a goal be ruled out on the basis of a few millimetres either way? There is simply no way of knowing for sure that such a call is correct, so on that basis the officials should be allowed to use their discretion. If they were, I suspect we would revert to the old adage of the attacker being given the benefit of the doubt and goals standing.
Howard Webb, who manages PRO Ref in the USA and provide referees for the MLS, does not use any drawn lines on the screen and the outcome is much simpler and more acceptable. I suggest that the PGMOL bins this system until it gains the same level of accuracy that we see when the HawkEye goal line technology is used.
In addition IFAB, football's lawmakers, need to sit down and consider implementing a law change which stipulates that there must be clear daylight between the attacker and the defender before an offside decision is made. This will result in fewer goals being chalked off, and attackers being rewarded for positive play rather than being punished, which is what is happening too frequently at the moment.
Bring back faith in VAR by getting rid of on-screen offside lines — or change the law altogether