The disallowed goal by Robert Lewandowski in Barcelona’s recent match against Real Sociedad continues to stir reactions in Catalonia. Following comments from Iñaki Peña, analysis from Casadó, and an ironic remark by Raphinha, Deco, Barcelona's sporting director, has now added fuel to the fire by casting doubt on the semi-automatic offside system used during the game.

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the former Portuguese midfielder expressed his confusion over the technology used in refereeing: "I don’t understand, but if it’s semi-automatic, it’s not automatic, someone has to press the button. We’re like with a car, we don’t know if it’s automatic, if it’s hybrid... There’s something they need to explain. Why is it semi-automatic? I’m lost. I still don’t know if the boots were yellow or black..." His comments, laced with confusion, highlight the lack of clarity surrounding the process.

However, Deco made it clear that his criticism wasn’t meant as an excuse for Barcelona’s defeat in San Sebastián. "We don’t want to go down that road because we don’t want to make excuses. But there’s a question: What happened? Where is the mistake, if there is one? If not, fine, but they need to explain it to us," he remarked, stressing the need for a clearer explanation regarding the technology. "We’re a bit lost when it comes to the semi-automatic, whether there’s any VAR influence, if the referee can’t really do anything…", he added.

The Barcelona sporting director also emphasized the need for greater transparency in the use of this technology. "Football must evolve, otherwise, we’re lost," he stated, suggesting that if the semi-automatic system isn’t working as it should, the previous system should be reconsidered. "They need to tell us what’s going on. We’re not saying this because Barcelona has been harmed, but because it’s for the betterment of the game," he underscored.

Deco further reflected on how VAR should make refereeing decisions clearer for fans, both in the stadium and watching from home. "If there’s a mistake, we need to find a solution, explain why it happened, and what can be done about it," he concluded, advocating for a system that makes decisions more transparent and understandable. "VAR was supposed to make the decisions clearer and make football easier, even for those watching from home, to understand and explain it," he insisted, making it clear that although Barcelona has benefited from the system in some instances, transparency is key.

Deco’s words reflect the ongoing frustration and discontent surrounding the use of the semi-automatic offside technology and the interpretation of refereeing decisions—controversies that seem far from being resolved.

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