Liverpool's Florian Wirtz confessed to his own astonishment after his contentious equaliser against Fulham was allowed to stand on Sunday, a decision dictated by a seldom-discussed VAR protocol.
The Controversial Moment at Craven Cottage
In the 57th minute of a pulsating Premier League clash at Craven Cottage, the German midfielder, a £118 million summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen, found the net to level the scores at 1-1. The immediate reaction, however, was one of confusion. Wirtz himself refrained from celebrating, and the assistant referee promptly raised his flag for offside following Conor Bradley's pass.
The video assistant referee initiated a lengthy review. To the bewilderment of many watching, including the goalscorer, the decision was overturned and the goal was awarded. Wirtz later told Sky Sports: "I was sure it was offside so I didn't even celebrate. I was happy that I scored but I'd rather take the three points."
The 'Margin of Error' Rule Behind the Decision
The reason for the unexpected outcome lies in a specific technicality of the Premier League's semi-automated offside system. Unlike in competitions such as the Champions League, where offside is measured to the millimetre, the English top flight incorporates a tolerance level of up to five centimetres.
This margin accounts for potential technological error in the system's calibration. In the visual representation broadcast to fans, this is effectively the width of the green line marking the position of the last defender. Analysis showed that while Wirtz appeared ahead of Fulham's Issa Diop, his foot was judged to be within that five-centimetre buffer zone, meaning the benefit of the doubt was given to the attacker.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher summed up the widespread surprise during his post-match analysis, stating: "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."
Late Drama and League Implications
The match was far from over after Wirtz's controversial strike. Liverpool then took the lead through Cody Gakpo deep into stoppage time, only for Fulham's Harrison Reed to score a sensational thunderbolt to snatch a 2-2 draw at the death.
The result had implications for both sides' league positions. Liverpool solidified their place in the top four, while Fulham, now on a five-game unbeaten run, climbed to 11th in the table. The match will be remembered not just for the late drama, but for the detailed VAR ruling that left players, pundits, and fans alike reaching for the rulebook.
