When Scott McTominay fired in from an Alejandro Garnacho cross with just eight minutes on the clock against Fulham, it seemed too good to be true for Manchester United.
For Erik ten Hag, it turned out to be exactly that as the goal was ruled out for a ‘subjective offside’ according to Darren Fletcher on TNT Sports commentary.
Neither Alejandro Garnacho nor Scott McTominay were in an offside position, instead, it was Harry Maguire who was offside and seemingly interfering in play.
Maguire was nowhere near the ball so the offside decision was awarded after a check by referee John Brookes who checked the VAR monitor before disallowing the goal, which seems to be a first for an offside.
But even after Manchester United cleared that hurdle and won 1-0 over Fulham, VAR was not done kicking the Red Devils for the day…
Newcastle goal allowed
Manchester United have also had another goal disallowed this season which was later awarded in a different game a few weeks down the line.
Newcastle United beat Arsenal 1-0 at St James’ Park later on Saturday, the goal itself came from a cross by Joe Willock but the ball seemed to have gone over the touchline and after a replay, it did seem that way but the angle wasn’t conclusive.
Weeks earlier, when Marcus Rashford ran to the byline, cut it back to Rasmus Hojlund to finish against Brighton & Hove Albion, the ball, too, looked to have crossed the line, but it was very right. Yet, VAR disallowed that goal, despite the angle also not being conclusive.
Why did one count and not the other? Where is the consistency?
Going back to McTominay’s disallowed goal against Fulham, this was very similar to an even more blatant one where Manchester City benefitted.
When City took on Fulham two months ago, Manuel Akanji looked way offside from Nathan Ake’s header from a corne. He didn’t touch the ball but was clearly interfering with play and made an attempt towards the ball, yet the goal was given.
Erik ten Hag’s decision
What is clear is that Ten Hag, in his next press conference, needs to apply pressure on the officials or at least discuss the decisions that have been bizarre at best.
Mikel Arteta, following the defeat to Newcastle, labelled the decision in the lead-up to the goal as ‘embarrassing‘. Ten Hag needs to follow suit.
We all laughed when Jurgen Klopp ranted about Liverpool being wronged by VAR. But since then, they have seen favourable decisions go their way.
The Red Devils have had some dubious decisions go against them this season and the 53-year-old should make the media well aware of his disdain.
United have had some terrible decisions go against them, that have been given to other sides, Ten Hag needs to make the world aware of this, maybe then, things might change.
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