Cyprus Football Association reaffirms validity of VAR offside technology

Following recent protests regarding a disallowed goal during the Apollon versus Nea Salamina match, the Cyprus Football Association (CFA/KOP) has reiterated its official stance on the accuracy of its VAR offside technology. The federation maintains that the system is among the most reliable in the industry.

To address concerns about visual distortions where VAR lines appear non-parallel to field markings, the CFA referred to an explanatory statement issued on February 26, 2025. The process involves the VAR official identifying the relevant player body parts, followed by the replay operator placing markers, and the software calculating the final offside position. Discrepancies in how lines appear to the human eye are attributed to camera angles, perspective, and lens distortion rather than technical errors. The CFA highlighted that this is a common phenomenon in professional football, noting that similar technical explanations have been provided by major leagues such as the English Premier League and FIFA to clarify why perceived visual lines may not always align with geometric reality.

The federation continues to stand by this technology, emphasizing that the roles of the VAR and the replay operator are precise. No further changes to the officiating protocols have been announced as a result of these complaints.