However, the celebration was cut short when the video assistant referee (VAR) intervened and ruled that the goal should not count because Harry Maguire was standing in an offside position. When Christian Eriksen took the free kick inside the box, the VAR official noticed that Maguire was in an offside position. Consequently, the goal was disallowed.
The question of whether or not Maguire’s presence disrupted the action of the play was a difficult one. The commentary team has a wide range of opinions regarding this topic. Both Leon Osman and Conor Coady held opposing views, with Osman maintaining that Maguire’s influence was substantial while Coady was of the opinion that it was not relevant at all. It was clear that this decision was made on a subjective basis.
Fans vented their annoyance at the choice on various social media platforms, with some calling it “ridiculous” and others calling it a “joke.” Others contended that it did not fulfill the requirements necessary to be considered a “clear and obvious” mistake.
Jermaine Jenas, a member of the commentary team for TNT Sports, provided his take on the situation and suggested that the offside call was warranted since Maguire attempted to make touch with the ball. Rio Ferdinand said that the decision made on the pitch as well as the involvement of VAR revealed a lack of clarity, ultimately leading to the correct choice being made.
The verdict from the video assistant referee was a huge relief for Fulham. The previous manager of Aston Villa, Dean Smith, expressed his displeasure, citing both the recent goal-scoring form of McTominay and the routine nature of the free kick that resulted to the goal being disallowed as reasons for his dismay. The decision brought to light the ongoing discussions regarding the value of VAR and its influence on the game.
1 comment
what will we do?