This is a generational use of technology in the world of soccer.
Hilarious VAR offside check in Venezuela
During the Venezuelan first division Clausura 2024 match between clubs Puerto Cabello and Portuguesa on Sunday, an offside play — inaccurately “checked” by a TV broadcast — has made waves of social media.
In the 84th minute of the match, a Puerto Cabello goal was quickly denied by the linesman for being in an offside position. The home side were close to open the scoring.
However, after not being provided a replay from the VAR (as there was none in the match), a TV broadcast, in an unsuccessful attempt to have fans and spectators watching from home decide the play for themselves, showed perhaps the worst VAR offside line of all time. They somehow made a clear offside position into onside.
A linha de impedimento traçada pelo VAR na Liga da Venezuela.
— Jornal dos Sports (@JornalDosSports) July 23, 2024
We’re just glad the broadcasters are not actually in charge of deciding these plays.
As the video began going viral on social media, fans believed the VAR offside line was used by the league’s match officials, with the league's federation refuting the news on X.
“It wasn’t the VAR, but an intent from the broadcast director. No more clickbait,” said the Venezuelan Federation’s account replying to a tweet.
No fue el VAR sino un invento del director de la transmisión. No más clickbait
— Foro Todofutbol (@foro_todofutbol) July 23, 2024
The league (Liga FUTVE) also released a statement regarding the play, saying the moment was "a bad action and individual execution of a resource that is not permitted in the broadcasts of our competition."
⚠️ • Comunicado oficial pic.twitter.com/qD9FVoFZaK
— Liga FUTVE (@LigaFUTVE) July 23, 2024
