A critical failure of the Premier League's much-vaunted technology caused significant delay and controversy during Newcastle United's match against Chelsea on Saturday.
Technology Failure Causes Lengthy Delay
The pivotal moment occurred during the lunchtime kick-off at St James' Park on Saturday, 20th December 2025. Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade found the net for his second goal against Chelsea, but the celebration was put on hold as officials embarked on a protracted VAR review.
The core issue was a complete failure of the semi-automatic offside technology (SAOT) system. This advanced tool, designed to provide rapid and accurate offside decisions using camera tracking and artificial intelligence, was unavailable to the Video Assistant Referee team.
Manual Check Required as System Crashes
With the automated system down, the responsibility fell solely to VAR official Peter Bankes. He was forced to conduct a traditional, manual review using the available broadcast footage to determine whether Woltemade was in an offside position.
The situation was explained live on air by commentator Darren Fletcher. He stated, "The semi-automated offside was down at that point so they didn't have that technology to lean on. Which would have speeded things up, hence it took Peter Bankes in the VAR room longer to work it out."
Fletcher acknowledged the frustration for fans, adding, "That's just a bit of an explanation whether you like that kind of thing or not – that's the reason why it took longer."
Implications for Premier League Technology Reliance
This incident raises immediate questions about the Premier League's dependence on technology for key match decisions. While the goal was eventually awarded, the failure highlights a significant vulnerability.
The league has heavily promoted its investment in SAOT as a solution to contentious and slow offside calls. This very public malfunction during a high-profile fixture undermines that narrative and will likely prompt a review from PGMOL, the referees' body.
The match proceeded after the delay, but the incident has become the major talking point, overshadowing the on-pitch result. It serves as a stark reminder that even the most sophisticated systems are fallible, and human officials must remain proficient in making crucial calls without technological aid.
