Semi-automated offside technology was not available
High number of bodies in the box prevented its use
The delay in ruling out a Manchester City goal for offside in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win at Newcastle was extended because semi-automated offside technology could not be used in the incident.
It took more than five minutes for a check to determine that Erling Haaland was offside and had interfered with play by holding the defender Malick Thiaw, with the referee Chris Kavanagh disallowing what would have been a second goal of the night for City’s new signing Antoine Semenyo.
The check would have been significantly quicker if semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) had been available, it is understood, but the number of bodies in the box at the time of the incident meant it could not be used.
