It is becoming a wearying trend for the FC Barcelona faithful: a moment of brilliance by Ferran Torres, a celebratory roar from the stands, and then the cold, digital intervention of a VAR system that seems determined to find fault in millimetres.
As reported by COPE, the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has now moved to certify the decision made during yesterday’s clash between Barça and Celta Vigo, though their explanation may do little to soothe the sense of injustice in Catalonia.
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The goal, a clinical finish by Torres that should have cushioned Barcelona’s lead, was scrubbed from the scoreboard after the Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) flagged a “very tight” offside.
According to the committee, the transgression was located in the player’s shoulder – a part of the anatomy that has become the latest battleground for controversial calls against the Blaugrana.
Crucially, the CTA reminded critics that the actual decision-making process does not use the virtual recreations shown to the public on television.
While fans at home were left squinting at a frame that appeared to show Torres clearly onside, the referees insist the internal data tells a different story.
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Acknowledging the “credibility gap” created when fans see blurry or confusing images on screen, the CTA revealed they are currently collaborating with Hawk-Eye, the technology provider.
The goal is to refine the virtual image generation process to ensure that the graphics shown to viewers are clearer and more intuitive. By improving these visual aids, the authorities hope to minimise the scepticism that often follows such razor-thin calls.
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