After a fascinating game that left the whole football world in shock, the Red Devils took home the three points, having a last-minute 1-0 victory, thus winning the match against the Foxes at Old Trafford on Saturday. The crucial time came in the 93rd minute when Harry Maguire directed a corner into the net, and that was when the home fans went wild with their happy cheers. Nevertheless, some went over the top with their celebration, and there arose a debate on the meaning of the goal, although the goal had seemed to be onside when pictures were first taken, regardless of the fact that Leicester’s players were challenging the video appeal and observing the corner.
The arguments of the goal arrived after Maguire hit the ball with his head thus scoring a goal that was obviously taking the team closer to the win. Rashford, who was offside, apparently blocked the defender’s view and probably got in the way of the goalkeepers’ vision, as shown in the replays. United did not get disheartened by the away team’s objections and neither did the VAR system find any reason to cancel the goal, and thus, the goal that van Nistelrooy and the players were mad about remained standing.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was honest at the post-match press conference, calling the decision totally “unacceptable” and raising doubts not only about the VAR system but also about whether this was a result of an intentional mistake. “I still don’t understand what VAR is for when goals like this are allowed to stand,” the Dutchman raged. “Rashford was offside and played the ball, which clearly let the defense stop Leicester from saving the goal. What I cannot understand is the use of VAR,” was Ruud van Nistelrooy’s explanation. “Why must the referee mess up such decisions when VAR is supposed to save them from doing it?”
What has irked the fans is the fact that the game has restarted the deliberations on the incessant use of VAR in soccer. The opponents’ criticism is concentrated around the fact that the electronic technology, which was conceived to reduce human error and to guarantee impartial judgments, has, in reality, introduced new issues in the game. The proponents of VAR, on the other hand, are convinced that apart from the controversial calls, the use of the system has generally improved the quality of refereeing in football.
Despite the fact that Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, acknowledged that the decision was tight, he still denied the goal. “We think that it was a clear goal,” Ten Hag said. “Harry did a very good job, and he put in a great header. It is very difficult in fast-paced moments like this to always make a correct decision, but we feel the officials messed it up.”
The disagreement even overcame a great and equilibrated match between two clubs with Continental probabilities. United’s success brings them closer to the Champions League spot; on the other hand, Leicester’s loss is really a great obstacle to their own top-four ambitions. The settlement leaves United in fourth place, just two points shy of fifth-placed Newcastle United, with Leicester moving down to seventh.
Football pundits and fans have flown to social media to let loose their opinions on that happening. The debates could last for a week. Former referee Mark Clattenburg threw in his two cents on the topic by saying that even though it was a difficult call, the goal should not have been allowed. “I think Brentford was totally in the right with the decision to disallow the goal. Rashford’s influence on the defenders’ performance to play the ball was evident. It’s a tough decision to make, but I am sure VAR should have stepped in.”
This event has also brought up doubts about the regularity of VAR’s choices across different matches and tournaments. Numerous people have pointed out the scenario to be similar in other games of penalty injustice, and therefore, the advocates kept calling for the use of clearer procedures. The Premier League has committed to viewing the incident as part of its overall technological upgrading and editing of the VAR system.
When the dust settles over the swirling controversy of this match, the attention of the two teams should be shifted to the upcoming schedule. The Manchester-based club, meanwhile, will be putting their heads up against Granada, their midweek opponents, in a very interesting clash as both sides are eager to advance to the next round of the Champions League. In contrast, Leicester City will need to come up with a real comeback soon to keep their fight for a position in the European tournament going. But the matter that is the cause of the highly questionable decision will probably resonate for quite some time, potentially influencing further talks of the role of technology in football.