Analysis of VAR Decisions at Euro 2024

The Euro 2024 match between Netherlands and France saw a controversial VAR decision where a goal by Xavi Simons was disallowed for offside. The incident took place in the 69th minute when Simons scored what seemed to be the opening goal for the Netherlands. However, the goal was overturned after a VAR review, ruling it out for offside.

The disallowed goal hinged on the nuances of the offside law and the concept of interfering with an opponent. While Simons struck a clean shot into the bottom corner of the goal, Denzel Dumfries was positioned in an offside stance between the goalkeeper and the trajectory of the ball. The key question was whether Dumfries’ presence affected the goalkeeper’s ability to make a save, regardless of whether he would have reached the ball.

One of the major points of contention was the duration of the VAR review in this instance. It took the VAR officials, led by Stuart Attwell, a total of 2 minutes and 47 seconds to uphold the on-field decision of offside. This extended review time raised eyebrows as it was the longest delay in the tournament so far. The delay could have been avoided by conducting a quick and decisive check, which would have provided clarity on the correctness of the initial call.

The disallowed goal in the Netherlands vs. France game drew comparisons to a similar incident at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where Ecuador had a goal ruled out for offside. In that case, the player in question, Jackson Porozo, also stood in a position that could have influenced the goalkeeper but the goal was upheld after a VAR review. This highlights the subjectivity of passive offside decisions, where a player’s positioning may or may not impact play.

VAR decisions in football continue to spark debate and controversy, with each incident shedding light on the intricacies of the offside law and the role of technology in officiating. The review in the Netherlands vs. France game serves as a reminder of the need for efficiency and clarity in VAR protocols to ensure fair and accurate decisions on the field.