The closest VAR offside call ever? Empoli’s Tyronne Ebuehi can feel hard done by as his equaliser against Torino is ruled out by a sliver of his boot – and on his birthday!

On Saturday night, Tyronne Ebuehi thought he had scored for Empoli on his 28th birthday – only for the goal to be ruled out by a sliver of his football boot!

Hosts Torino had taken a 1-0 lead courtesy of Duvan Zapata’s 25th minute goal – but Ebuehi thought he had levelled for Empoli a few moments later.

However, an extensive VAR check took place, which ruled that the goal could not stand, because of an offside infringement which covered just a tiny fragment of his boot. 

The Nigerian international celebrated his birthday on Saturday, but left Torino disappointed as the hosts finished with a 1-0 win. 

Ebeuhi anticipated Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic to tap in Sebastiano Luperto’s ball for the supposed equaliser – but a long VAR wait emerged, as the footage was forensically examined.

The Semi-Automatic Offside technology pictures were officially released by Serie A

It proved bad luck for Empoli’s Tyronne Ebuehi who thought he had scored on his birthday

When the Semi-Automatic Offside technology pictures were officially released by Serie A, it showed that the offence was entirely down to the sliver of his boot, which could legally have been used to score a valid goal. 

Whilst the imagery also flagged the shirt sleeve, it is not clear whether this would have constituted an offside offence, as you are not officially supposed to score with the arm.  

Empoli manager Aurelio Andreazzoli took the bizarre incident philosophically, telling Sky Sport Italia with a smile: ‘Ebuehi has wide feet…’

Ebuehi joined Empoli in July 2022, and has a year and a half remaining on his contract with the Italian club.

Empoli, who sit 18th in Serie A, host Lazio on Friday night, before their final game of the calendar year away to Cagliari eight days later.