New technology slammed as Bayer Leverkusen have a goal disallowed

‘I think I’m done with football’: Fans slam new semi-automated technology for ‘ruining the game’ after Bayer Leverkusen have a goal controversially disallowed for a player being offside ‘by the size of a fly’

  • Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrick Schick had a goal controversially ruled out
  • The German side lost 1-0 to Club Brugge in the Champions League group stage
  • Schick’s effort was disallowed by the new semi-automated offside technology
  • Fans slammed the technology after the decision and said it was ‘ruining football’ 

Football fans slammed the new semi-automated offside technology after Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrick Schick had a controversial goal disallowed against Club Brugge.

The German side lost 1-0 to the Belgians in the Champions League group stage after a first half goal from Abakar Sylla.

However, it wasn’t without debate as Schick had an effort ruled out in the second half following an extremely tight offside call.   

Patrick Schick had a goal disallowed during Bayer Leverkusen’s 1-0 defeat to Club Brugge

The new semi-automated offside technology had adjudged Jonathan Tah (C) to be offside

Tah was ruled offside by the narrowest of margins, causing backlash over the decision

Semi-automated offside technology has been introduced for this season’s Champions League.

The new system, which has already been approved by FIFA for this winter’s World Cup in Qatar, operates thanks to specialised cameras which are able to track 29 different body points per player.

A total of 188 tests were performed since 2020 before its introduction, including all matches in last season’s Champions League and throughout Euro 2022.

FIFA estimates the technology will help to cut decision-making time on offsides from an average of 70 seconds using current video review methods down to between 20 and 25 seconds. 

The German side were fuming after the extremely tight decision to rule their goal out

However, the new technology was lambasted after Leverkusen’s defeat on Wednesday when Jonathan Tah jumped alongisde Schick, with the Czech striker securing the faintest of touches to guide the ball into the net.

But VAR showed Tah to be fractionally offside, with part of his toe being in an illegal position, causing anger among football fans on social media as the goal was ruled out.

One angry fan fumed: ‘F*** VAR. Tah being offside by half a toe does not affect the play at all. Death of the game.’

Another added: ‘This is the goal that wasn’t given by the Semiautomatic offside technology. Schick was offside by the tip of his toenail. Yes, that bit in black. Imagine this happens in the World Cup final. Ridiculous. This isn’t what technology is for. They’re ruining football.’

Football fans fumed at the disallowed goal for Leverkusen on Wednesday evening

A further supporter said: ‘This just isn’t offside. From the Bayer Leverkusen game last night: this disallowed a goal.’

One user went further and said: ‘This was an offside in the Bayer Leverkusen game last night. If this is the direction the games going I think I’m done with football.’

Another explained: ‘Leverkusen absolutely robbed by VAR today. Called offside by the size of a fly.’ 

Despite the criticism for the new technology, FIFA president Gianni Infantino believes the world will soon see the benefits of semi-automated offsides.

‘At the FIFA World Cup in 2018, FIFA took the brave step to use VAR technology on the world’s biggest stage, and it has proven to be an undisputable success,” he told FIFA’s official website in July.

‘Semi-automated offside technology is an evolution of the VAR systems that have been implemented across the world. 

‘This technology is the culmination of three years of dedicated research and testing to provide the very best for the teams, players and fans who will be heading to Qatar later this year, and FIFA is proud of this work, as we look forward to the world seeing the benefits of semi-automated offside technology at the FIFA World Cup 2022.

‘FIFA is committed to harnessing technology to improve the game of football at all levels, and the use of semi-automated offside technology at the FIFA World Cup in 2022 is the clearest possible evidence.’




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