FIFA Addresses Technical Issue with Offside Graphic During Qatar-Switzerland Match

FIFA has revealed that a “brief technical outage” resulted in the absence of an onside animation graphic during the VAR review that allowed Breel Embolo to successfully score a penalty in Switzerland’s 1-1 draw against Qatar. Embolo netted his 25th goal for the national team after Mahmud Abunda fouled midfielder Remo Freuler while contesting a flick-on, leading to a VAR check that confirmed the goal was valid.

However, this incident was marked by the lack of visual evidence from the new semi-automated offside technology, which could have demonstrated to viewers how the video assistant referees reached their conclusion. FIFA stated, “During the Qatar vs. Switzerland match in the San Francisco Bay Arena, a brief technical outage prevented the onside animation graphic from being generated ahead of the penalty in the 14th minute.” The organization assured that the issue was quickly rectified and did not impact the VAR workflow, which adhered to standard procedures in evaluating the on-field decision regarding offside.

FIFA further clarified that the VAR lines showed the attacking player was not in an offside position prior to the penalty kick. Semi-automated offside technology, already in use in various leagues such as Serie A and La Liga, aims to facilitate the accuracy of marginal offside calls by automating critical aspects of the evaluation process. This technology employs multiple cameras to track thousands of data points on the players’ bodies and the ball's movement, although referees still review the automatic findings before making a final decision.

Gary Neville, who provided commentary for ITV during the match, criticized FIFA for withholding this vital information from viewers, comparing the organization to a “dictatorship.” He expressed his frustration, stating, “Fans are already distrusting of FIFA and technology... It’s absolutely ridiculous.” His comments reflect a growing concern among fans regarding transparency in officiating and the use of technology in football.