A contentious VAR decision during Liverpool's clash with Fulham on Sunday has thrown the Premier League's unique interpretation of the offside rule back into the spotlight. The incident, which allowed Florian Wirtz's equaliser to stand, left pundit Jamie Carragher baffled and reignited the debate over technology's role in the game.
The Controversial Craven Cottage Incident
The match, ultimately decided by Harrison Reed's spectacular 97th-minute winner for Fulham, was heavily influenced by Video Assistant Referee interventions. VAR official Andy Madley overturned two on-field decisions, first awarding Harry Wilson's opener for Fulham after a tight offside check, and then, more controversially, allowing Florian Wirtz's Liverpool leveller.
When Conor Bradley found the German international inside the box, Wirtz swept the ball past Bernd Leno but immediately hesitated, believing he was offside. "I was sure it was offside so I didn't even celebrate," Wirtz admitted after the match. Initial replays seemed to confirm his suspicion, showing him potentially ahead of the last defender.
Pundit Fury and Premier League Explanation
Analysing the goal for Sky Sports, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was incredulous. "He looks offside to me. He looks like he's further forward," Carragher stated. "I know sometimes the angles can fool you, but the fact we've got the penalty spot to look at, I just can't believe that's been given." His view was echoed by ex-Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on BBC Radio 5 Live, who called it a "strange one."
Despite the visual evidence, a lengthy VAR review concluded Wirtz was onside. The Premier League's match centre account on X (formerly Twitter) posted: "VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal – and established that Wirtz was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded." This explanation did little to quell the confusion.
The Key Difference: Premier League's Tolerance Level
The resolution lies in a specific Premier League protocol introduced at the start of the 2020/21 season. Unlike UEFA competitions, such as the Champions League, which judge offside to the millimetre, the English top flight operates with a 5cm 'grace' margin for attackers. This tolerance is designed to give a slight benefit to attacking play and is represented by thicker lines in the official VAR graphics.
This system has been a persistent source of controversy. Broadcasters like Sky Sports often draw their own lines using different technology, leading to conflicting conclusions with the VAR hub at Stockley Park. Similar incidents have angered clubs this season, including Manchester City in November after a Harvey Barnes goal for Newcastle, and Aston Villa following a Leeds United strike.
The fundamental issue is that offside, under these Premier League guidelines, is no longer a purely black-and-white decision. The introduction of a tolerance zone means graphics are open to interpretation by fans and pundits alike, ensuring that VAR controversy will remain an unwelcome but regular feature of the matchday experience.
