VAR controversy: Offside or not? Manchester City and Arsenal goal incidents in the spotlight
BBC • • sports
Key Points:
- Manchester City had a goal controversially disallowed by VAR for offside involving Erling Haaland in their EFL Cup semi-final, while Arsenal's similar offside situation was allowed to stand, highlighting inconsistency in VAR decisions.
- The Haaland offside call was technically correct but viewed as an overreach by VAR, contrasting with Arsenal's goal where the offside player was not deemed to be impacting play, illustrating subtle differences in interpretation.
- VAR delays and unexpected decisions, such as the five-and-a-half-minute review for Manchester City's disallowed goal, frustrate supporters and undermine confidence in the system, prompting calls for more efficient and consistent reviews.
- Howard Webb, head of referees, emphasizes that VAR officials should avoid
