Thread by @DaleJohnsonESPN

New season VAR changes thread No. 1:
OFFSIDE REVAMP

- The key differences & how it works
- Why it won't be as quick as Euro 2020
- How it will cut the number of disallowed goals
- Why there will still be "marginal" disallowed goals

For the past two seasons, the Premier League has calculated offside to the millimetre.

But the technology, and how it's applied, isn't capable of making an accurate decision to the millimetre.

Now, the PL will adopt the methodology brought in by UEFA last season (UCL, Euros).

Last season, 1mm lines were used to make all decisions.

The TV broadcast lines gave viewers the final image, but the decision was actually made off narrower lines.

Here you see the black, 1mm attacking line being placed. (yellow is finalised defensive line).

So, what's different? Rather than the decision being made by 1mm lines you can't see, it uses TV lines which you CAN see.

No player will be offside unless there's a clear result.

Ergo, if the two lines touch, it's onside. One green line shown rather than a mash of red & blue.

"On marginal offside, we've now effectively re-introduced the benefit of the doubt to the attacking player," Mike Riley said.

"So it's the toe nails, the noses of the players who are offside; they might have been offside last season but next season they won't be."

The Premier League won't confirm the exact margin of error, but I'm told the TV line gives 5cm to the attacker for that "benefit of the doubt".

It might not seem like much, but it would have saved 19 goal situations last season. Again, I can't get a confirmed list of the 19.

VAR disallowed 32 goals for offside last season, but the 19 won't all come from this.

That's because goals were ruled out for offside on the pitch, which were confirmed as marginally offside by the VAR. They are not included in the 32.

Still, it will be a marked reduction.

It won't be as slick as Euro 2020, which had an assistant as a dedicated offside VAR in every game. It's impossible for any league to copy this.

But the Premier League method (as with the UCL) is exactly the same as at Euro 2020, except for the dedicated offside VAR.

The VAR process itself doesn't change at all.

The lines are still drawn, points on players are still potted. There's now just a 5cm margin of error to reduce the marginal offside calls.

It will still take the same amount of time, an average of 34 seconds last season.

An important change is the Premier League will stop showing the decision-making process. You won't see the lines drawn.

Instead, the final result will be provided to the broadcaster in the same timescale as before - it's then up to the broadcaster when it's shown.

This is far superior, as it stops fans, media and rights-holders sharing incomplete, and incorrect, images - which no one can understand.

It only added to the VARs problems and perception.

There's no conspiracy to hide here, it's just a better system - as shown in the Euros.

It's important to note that this ISN'T the Dutch system, which sticks with the linesman's decision if it's close (lines touch).

If it's close, then it's a goal.

It doesn't matter if the assistant flagged and it's close, benefit of the doubt still goes to the attacker.

So, let's take a look at some goals given offside last season, which would probably count under the new interpretation.

- Vardy offside for Barnes goal
- Henderson goal ruled out for offside against Mane
- Salah goal vs. Brighton
- Bamford goal vs. Palace

Other goals/incidents that would likely stand this season:

- Salah vs. Sheffield United
- Willian Jose goal disallowed for Wolves vs. Fulham
- Arsenal penalty cancelled for offside
- Laporte goal disallowed vs. Wolves

Worth noting that Virgil van Dijk would have been onside against Everton.

That would have definitely resulted in a penalty for Liverpool, and as such the red card for Jordan Pickford would not have been missed as a full pitchside review would have been required.

The issue, of course, is this just moves the point at which a player becomes offside in the VAR world.

There will still be marginal decisions, just at a new point. At least now there will be a clear image.

Here's two close ones from Euro 2020, which you will see in the PL.

Even under the new system, there are still decisions which last season produced a clear result which fans refused to accept.

These caused disbelief among Leeds fans, but they will still be disallowed this coming season (most were actually flagged by the assistant).

Other marginal decisions which would still be disallowed under the new system:

- Gabriel Jesus for GK own goal vs. Burnley
- Ollie Watkins vs. West Ham
- Chilwell for Chelsea's FA Cup final goal
- Watkins vs. WBA

One final change is more flexibility for an assistant with the delayed flag on a very clear offside.

It means we should no longer see the flag stay down when an attacker is yards off.

It obviously has possible pitfalls, but it should be less infuriating for players and fans.

I'll do two other threads this week.

One on the new interpretation of soft fouls, and another on how handball will be judged this season.