In a recent FA Cup fourth-round match, Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy expressed strong disapproval over a contentious late goal that led to his team’s 2-1 defeat against Manchester United. The decisive moment came in the 93rd minute when United’s Harry Maguire scored a header from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick. Replays indicated that Maguire was in an offside position, but due to the absence of VAR at this stage of the competition, the goal stood. citeturn0news9
Van Nistelrooy, a former Manchester United striker, criticized the officiating, stating, “It was offside time, not Fergie time.” He emphasized that his team deserved a fair opportunity to compete in extra time, highlighting their strong performance throughout the match. Despite acknowledging that mistakes can occur, he found this particular error unacceptable. citeturn0news11
Manchester United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, conceded that his team was fortunate with the decision and underscored the importance of implementing VAR in earlier rounds to ensure fairness. He also recognized the need for his team to improve their performance moving forward. citeturn0news10
This incident has ignited discussions about the necessity of employing VAR from the earlier stages of the FA Cup to prevent similar controversies in the future.
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