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Bournemouth’s FA Cup clash with Wolves witnessed a historic VAR delay, with a goal review stretching beyond seven minutes, making it the longest-ever in English football. What should have been a routine decision turned into a drawn-out saga, leaving both sets of supporters exasperated. Chants of disapproval echoed around the stadium as frustrations with the system’s inefficiencies boiled over.

The controversy erupted during the FA Cup fifth-round tie at the Vitality Stadium, where the trialed semi-automated offside technology malfunctioned. The breakdown forced VAR officials to revert to manually drawing lines, a process that dramatically extended the review time. Instead of enhancing decision-making speed, the failure only fueled the ongoing debate over VAR’s reliability.

Both Bournemouth and Wolves fans were vocal in their frustration, with chants such as “it’s not football anymore” ringing out across the ground. The delay is believed to have surpassed the previous longest check, recorded during a Premier League match between West Ham and Aston Villa in March 2024. The FA had promised that semi-automated offsides would improve efficiency, yet this incident provided evidence to the contrary.

Amid the uncertainty, referee Sam Barrott took the unusual step of consulting both managers—Andoni Iraola and Vitor Pereiraon the sidelines. With no immediate clarity on whether the goal would stand, the prolonged review only deepened confusion. The final verdict ruled Milos Kerkez’s goal offside, with the ball having deflected off Dean Huijsen before crossing the line.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson expressed disbelief at the situation, joking that Barrott might have been asking the managers for restaurant recommendations instead of making a decision. Even after the ruling, Merson remained skeptical, questioning whether the correct footage had even been reviewed and criticizing the lack of transparency in the process.

BBC Sport journalist Nizaar Kinsella echoed the astonishment, noting that he had never witnessed an instance where both sets of fans were equally furious over a VAR decision. He highlighted the unprecedented nature of the check, speculating that it would officially go down as the longest in English football history once verified.

Despite the farcical delay, Bournemouth eventually secured their spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic penalty shootout victory. This marks just the third time in the club’s history that they have reached this stage, though their triumph was somewhat overshadowed by the VAR debacle.

With discontent over VAR at an all-time high, this latest controversy has reignited calls for significant reform. Fans, pundits, and players alike are demanding a more efficient and transparent system to prevent similar delays in the future, as football continues to grapple with the technology’s impact on the game.