Why VAR took so long to award Nick Woltemade goal in Newcastle's Premier League clash against Chelsea

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It took over three minutes for Nick Woltemade's second goal for Newcastle United against Chelsea to be confirmed by VAR. The German volleyed home midway through the opening period to double his side's advantage, but there were question marks over whether he was offside as Anthony Gordon delivered the cross. There was a lengthy wait for Woltemade, but the Premier League has since explained why.

Woltemade guides in 'brilliant' Gordon cross to double Newcastle's lead

Video credit: TNT Sports

The Premier League has explained why Nick Woltemade’s second goal against Chelsea took so long to be confirmed by the video assistant referee (VAR).

After opening the scoring inside four minutes, the German volleyed home from Anthony Gordon’s cross to double Newcastle United’s lead midway through the first half.

There was a subsequent check by the VAR to whether the striker was in an offside position when the cross came in, and it took over three minutes after the goal was scored for it to be given.

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It has since been confirmed that the semi-automated technology was down at the time of the goal, so the check was carried out manually by the VAR.

The Premier League’s official X account posted: "The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Woltemade in an onside position.

"Due to technical issues, Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) wasn't available during the VAR check. The VAR was required to manually construct lines in."

'From villain to hero' - Woltemade thumps Newcastle into early lead

Video credit: TNT Sports

With it being an incredibly tight call, there was a gap of three minutes and 20 seconds between the ball finding the back of the net and the referee pointing to the centre circle.

Commentating on the incident on TNT Sports, Ally McCoist said: "When it's that tight, you give the goal."

Analysing the incident at half-time, Peter Crouch added: "If you’re waiting that long to draw lines and find toothcombs, then just give the goal.

"That’s what we all want to see. It’s a little bit frustrating, but common sense prevailed, and it was the correct decision."

Woltemade’s first-half brace took him to seven Premier League goals this season following his arrival in the summer from Stuttgart.

It was the ideal way for him to make amends after his own goal decided the Wear-Tyne derby last weekend.

McCoist said the striker "looks a really likeable big fella that the fans have certainly taken to".

Semi-automated offside technology was implemented in English football in February last year, first used in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The technology was then introduced in the Premier League in April, having first used in elite-level football at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

It is designed to make the judgment of tight offside calls easier for officials by rendering key parts of the process automatic.

The Premier League said in April that it "enhances the speed, efficiency, and consistency of offside decision-making".

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