VAR failed: manual lines used to rule out Dotor goal

VAR took center stage for the wrong reason in Getafe-Málaga: the goal disallowed for Dotor in the first half couldn’t be confirmed using the semi-automated system due to a technical issue, forcing the officials to draw the lines manually.

Disallowed goal, longer check

As reported by MARCA, the incident left plenty of confusion, and the review lasted several minutes. The position looked extremely tight, but the SAOT (semi-automated system) couldn’t be used after a malfunction. That meant the standard quick process wasn’t possible, and the references had to be traced by hand instead.

Shortly after, LaLiga issued a statement to clarify the situation. As the league explained, following an offside decision that invalidated Málaga’s strike in the closing part of the first half, the match had to proceed with manual line tracing because of a disfunction in the SAOT system.

Process was still correct

LaLiga underlined that the check and validation procedure was carried out properly, and once the adjustment was made, the visitor’s goal was confirmed as cancelled. The league also noted that the time spent reviewing the action was longer than it should have been, since the whole process normally should take only a few seconds.

So while the final ruling on the offside call stood, the technology issue changed the way VAR was applied.