We're analyzing every VAR decision made across the 51 matches of Euro 2024. On Friday, the Netherlands thought they had scored against France but the goal was disallowed for offside. What happened?
After each match, we analyze the main incidents to examine and explain the process in terms of the VAR protocol and the rules of the game.
Possible goal: Dumfries is offside on Simons' goal
What happened: Xavi Simons scored what he thought would be Holland's first goal in the 69th minute. However, as the players celebrated, referee Anthony Taylor was discussing the goal with his assistant and it was disallowed for offside.
VAR decision: No goal.
VAR review: This all comes down to the nuances of offside law and when a player in an offside position interferes with the opponent.
Simons took his first shot and headed toward the bottom right corner of the goal. Everything is OK until now.
However, Denzel Dumfries was in an offside position between goalkeeper Mike Maignan and the path of the ball.
Would Maignan have stopped the shot? That is not a consideration for officials; There is no decision on the goalkeeper's ability. What referees need to ask themselves is whether Dumfries had an impact on Maignan and whether that affected his decision not to dive for the save. Would the goalkeeper have had to go over the Dutch player to get to the ball? It is certainly a fair assessment considering Dumfries' position.
It was a pretty easy decision to disallow the goal. So the truly controversial part is why it took so long for VAR, Stuart Attwell and his assistants from Germany and Switzerland to back up the on-field decision: 2 minutes and 47 seconds after Taylor whistled for offside. It is the longest VAR review of the tournament. It should have been a quick and thorough check, which would have made it clearer that the call on the field was correct.
If Taylor and his assistant hadn't done it, then a lengthy VAR check would be much more understandable and the goal could have stood, as interference is a subjective decision.
It must be remembered that the referee will only be sent to the monitor to change your decision, not just to confirm it.
While the Dutch may feel aggrieved, they benefited in slightly more controversial circumstances at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In the group match, Ecuador thought they had equalized on the stroke of half-time through Pervis Estupiñán, but The goal was disallowed on the field for offside against Jackson Porozo. He was also close to the goalkeeper, between him and the path of the ball, but Andries Noppert had already launched himself in the opposite direction. Decision on the field, supported by the VAR.
Passive offside decisions, when the offending player does not touch or attempt to play the ball, are always the most controversial. But what is controversial and what the law intends do not match.
