Premier League referees have ‘lost faith in the technology used for semi-automated offside decisions’.
The Genius system was brought in at the end of last season for the first time but there have been teething problems and long delays at times.
According to the Telegraph, officials are unhappy with the technology and want the Premier League to switch provider.
Genius Sports are the current tech firm used after the top flight chose not to go with Hawk-Eye, which is used as a contractor for other requirements.
According to the report, referees have been worried about the system for a while but there was one instance that made plenty of minds up.
It was the five-and-a-half minute delay and then offside decision for a Man City goal against Newcastle at St James’ Park in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
Referees have ‘lost faith’ in the semi-automated technology used for offside
During Newcastle’s Carabao Cup game against Man City, there were issues with the semi-automated offside technology, officials were forced to draw the lines instead
Antoine Semenyo scored but then Erling Haaland was judged to have been offside and seeking to gain an advantage.
The Genius technology is said to have issues when the goalkeeper is not the last man in a sequence of play. Nick Pope effectively became the offside line and the technology struggles to adapt in these scenarios.
On that occasion, VAR Stuart Attwell, intervened with Hawk-Eye technology and drew lines on the screen.
At the time, referees body the PGMOL confirmed that technology supplied by Genius Sports had been unable to rule on the offside, in part due to the number of players crowding the ball as it found the back of the net.
It took five minutes and 40 seconds to make the decision, which drew the fury of fans, television viewers and City boss Pep Guardiola.
It prompted the Spaniard to rant at the end of the game, raging: ‘It’s a good question. I would like to know why VAR in 60 minutes in the Premier League game at Newcastle, when we lost 2-1, it was an insane penalty on (Fabian) Schar for (Phil) Foden an not even a consideration.
‘After 20 minutes there was an incredible foul on Jeremy Doku. Today four people were not able to decide but the second goal that Newcastle scored (in November) was perfect. I’m not suspicious of that in 10 years, I didn’t say anything when we lost here.
‘I didn’t say anything in the FA Cup Final (when Crystal Palace keeper Dean Henderson was not sent-off for handling outside the box). I didn’t say anything after (no) red card. OK, it’s fine. But the fact that we don’t say it. I’m pretty sure Howard Webb is going to come in tomorrow.’
Genius has their own camera network set up around stadiums and involves 30 iPhones positioned to capture 100 frames a second, while the other uses of VAR take footage from the broadcasters when reviewing decisions.
Given that the Premier League awarded the semi-automated offsides technology contract to Genius rather than Hawk-Eye, it means they are working with both groups separately at Stockley Park.
But there would be no guarantee that switching to Hawk-Eye would provide immediate improvement.
Their version of the technology led to an eight-minute delay in disallowing a goal in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey clash with Atletico Madrid, illustrating how no provider has completely nailed the process.