In light of the discussions and reactions that arise from time to time regarding VAR’s offside calls, we are republishing the announcement issued by the Cyprus Football Association on February 26, 2025, explaining how the lines are positioned and the reasons why they may appear visually different from the lines on the field.
Here is the full text of the announcement: “On February 26, 2025, in response to discussions and reactions regarding the VAR offside lines, the Cyprus Football Association provided an explanation of how the lines are drawn and why; in some cases the lines displayed may appear not to be perfectly straight and parallel to the field lines.
We would like to recall what the CFF’s announcement stated at the time
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Refereeing: No alibi, no scapegoat
-Explanation of VAR Offside Lines
Since the introduction of VAR, the Cyprus Football Association has been using one of the best and most reliable VAR technologies, including the offside detection software. The roles of the VAR and the replay operator in offside situations during a match are clear and precise. The VAR identifies the player who may be in an offside position and the second-to-last defender. He then identifies the point on their body closest to the goal line that is taken into account for the offside call. The replay operator marks the points indicated by the VAR, and the offside software system handles the rest of the process.
The offside lines displayed by the VAR may appear not to be perfectly straight and parallel to the field lines due to the following factors:
1. Perspective and Camera Angle: VAR cameras are not always perfectly aligned with the field lines. The perspective of the image can create the illusion that the line is not parallel.
2. 3D Rendering Technology: The VAR system uses a 3D model of the field and the players to position the offside line. This line is adjusted to the players’ actual positions and not necessarily to the visible lines on the field, which may appear distorted due to the camera angle.
3. Camera Lens Curvature: Depending on the type and field of view of the lens, there may be slight distortions in the image, causing the lines to appear crooked.
4. Image Analysis and Processing: VAR lines are generated using data from multiple cameras and undergo digital processing to ensure the highest possible accuracy. However, when displayed on a two-dimensional screen, they may appear slightly different from the lines on the field.
In reality, the VAR line is accurate, as it is based on algorithms and position-tracking technology, even if it appears visually not to be perfectly aligned with the field lines, as shown in the excerpt from the next slide.”
