Bournemouth vs Wolves hit with 8-minute VAR delay as new technology FAILS and ref forced to hold conference on touchline
FANS have slammed VAR as “embarrassing” after the new semi-automated offside technology failed in Bournemouth’s FA Cup tie with Wolves.
The system, which uses up to 30 specialist high-speed cameras to track 10,000 data points on every player, has been introduced to speed up checks and improve accuracy.
But on its debut weekend in English football, the technology failed right when needed after Bournemouth scored.
The Cherries managed to force the ball into the back of the net from a corner via a combination of Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez.
Video replays showed it may have come off an arm and there was a possible offside.
But in chaotic scenes, fans and players were left waiting a whopping EIGHT MINUTES for a decision to be made on the goal.
After checking for a handball, the semi-automated system was not working.
It meant the officials at Stockley Park were forced to draw the lines manually as usual, adding to an already lengthy delay.
As frustrations rose, referee Sam Barrott led captains Nelson Semedo and Lewis Cook to the touchline for a conference with the managers.
The official then turned on his microphone to announce to the Vitality Stadium that the hosts had not doubled their lead as Kerkez was offside.
Angry Bournemouth and Wolves fans sang, “It’s not football anymore,’ and “This is embarrassing’.
More fumed on social media, with one writing: “Absolute mess of a system.”
Another added: “That VAR at the Bournemouth game was utterly embarrassing.”
More said: “PGMOL are disgraceful.”
Others raged: “The standard of officiating is dropping every week.”
Premier League chiefs plan to roll out the use of semi-automated offside technology across the remainder of the season after this weekend’s FA Cup action.
The system, devised by the US-based company Genius Sports, aims to reduce decision times to an average of 30 seconds.
Bournemouth went on to win the game on penalties after Matheus Cunha was sent off for a headbutt.