A TECHNICAL malfunction with the video review system was blamed today for the incorrect awarding of a goal that decided Australia’s football title, throwing fresh doubts on the technology ahead of its World Cup debut.

Australian television viewers saw replays showing James Donachie was offside when he set up Kosta Barbarouses to clinch Melbourne Victory’s 1-0 win over the Newcastle Jets. 

In review following yesterday’s A-League grand final, Football Federation Australia said the video assistant referee (VAR) did not have access to the same footage as television viewers showing the offside.

Fifa confirmed in March that VAR would be used at the World Cup, which will be held in Russia from June 14 to July 15, despite some competitions, including the English Premier League, resisting introducing the technology.

The failure of VAR in Australia denied Newcastle a chance to go from last place in the 2016-17 season to champions in their first A-League grand final in a decade.