Harry Maguire’s Man Utd winner vs Leicester should have been RULED OUT but allowed to stand thanks to FA Cup rule quirk
MANCHESTER UNITED’s winning FA Cup goal against Leicester should NOT have stood. But Harry Maguire’s header in injury time to make it 2-1 was allowed to stand thanks to a rule quirk in the FA Cup. Harry Maguire was in a clear offside position AlamyHe went on to head the ball into the back of the net[/caption] The United defender was well offside as Bruno Fernandes crossed the ball in to set up the winner. But the linesman missed it, despite ITV commentator Lee Dixon describing it as “miles offside”. Normally, VAR would chalk it off, however the use of video technology is not being used in this round of the FA Cup. It was decided by the FA that VAR would only come into use from the fifth round onwards. Previously, VAR was used in the FA Cup in the third and fourth rounds, but only at Premier League stadiums “due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation.” The FA said in a statement: “Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will only be used in the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup from the Fifth Round onwards. “It has been agreed that VAR will be utilised for every match in the Fifth Round of the competition through to the Final at Wembley Stadium, and will not be in operation for the Third and Fourth Rounds. “VAR has only been used in the Emirates FA Cup previously for matches at Wembley Stadium and at Premier League grounds due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation. CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS “This decision ensures that there is a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition.” Leicester boss and United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy was furious with the decision after full-time. Leicester manager Van Nistelrooy, speaking to ITV, said: “We are not defeated in Fergie time, we are defeated in offside time. “This wasn’t necessary. VAR you have in a couple centimetres, a couple of inches, this was half a metre, clear in line. That was a hard one to take because the team deserves to draw in the end. Then extra time, stay in the game you, never know what happens. “We deserved to go into extra time, go for the battle in extra time and maybe penalties. “Decisions like these in our level are hard to swallow.” Another United great in Roy Keane didn’t hold back as he stated: “The linesman has to see it [Maguire being offside]. United got out of jail tonight. The performance itself was nowhere near good enough.” Ian Wright, appearing on ITV, said: “It’s a really poor decision for him. “That [decision] will impact [van Nistelrooy] and his managerial career!” “That could have been a really good confidence booster for them.” Keane followed up: “Sometimes they criticise the big clubs getting the decisions and that’s a great example of it.” Leicester opened the scoring just three minutes before half-time with Bobby De Cordova-Reid threatening United with yet another upset loss. However, the Red Devils equalised with substitute Joshua Zirkzee on 68 minutes before Maguire‘s controversial winner in the third minute of stoppage time. Ruud van Nistelrooy was raging with the decision GettyMaguire didn’t hold back during the celebrations[/caption]
MANCHESTER UNITED’s winning FA Cup goal against Leicester should NOT have stood.
But Harry Maguire’s header in injury time to make it 2-1 was allowed to stand thanks to a rule quirk in the FA Cup.
The United defender was well offside as Bruno Fernandes crossed the ball in to set up the winner.
But the linesman missed it, despite ITV commentator Lee Dixon describing it as “miles offside”.
Normally, VAR would chalk it off, however the use of video technology is not being used in this round of the FA Cup.
It was decided by the FA that VAR would only come into use from the fifth round onwards.
Previously, VAR was used in the FA Cup in the third and fourth rounds, but only at Premier League stadiums “due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation.”
The FA said in a statement: “Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will only be used in the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup from the Fifth Round onwards.
“It has been agreed that VAR will be utilised for every match in the Fifth Round of the competition through to the Final at Wembley Stadium, and will not be in operation for the Third and Fourth Rounds.
“VAR has only been used in the Emirates FA Cup previously for matches at Wembley Stadium and at Premier League grounds due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation.
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“This decision ensures that there is a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition.”
Leicester boss and United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy was furious with the decision after full-time.
Leicester manager Van Nistelrooy, speaking to ITV, said: “We are not defeated in Fergie time, we are defeated in offside time.
“This wasn’t necessary. VAR you have in a couple centimetres, a couple of inches, this was half a metre, clear in line. That was a hard one to take because the team deserves to draw in the end. Then extra time, stay in the game you, never know what happens.
“We deserved to go into extra time, go for the battle in extra time and maybe penalties.
“Decisions like these in our level are hard to swallow.”
Another United great in Roy Keane didn’t hold back as he stated: “The linesman has to see it [Maguire being offside]. United got out of jail tonight. The performance itself was nowhere near good enough.”
Ian Wright, appearing on ITV, said: “It’s a really poor decision for him. “That [decision] will impact [van Nistelrooy] and his managerial career!”
“That could have been a really good confidence booster for them.”
Keane followed up: “Sometimes they criticise the big clubs getting the decisions and that’s a great example of it.”
Leicester opened the scoring just three minutes before half-time with Bobby De Cordova-Reid threatening United with yet another upset loss.
However, the Red Devils equalised with substitute Joshua Zirkzee on 68 minutes before Maguire‘s controversial winner in the third minute of stoppage time.
