Ruud van Nistelrooy Fumes Over Controversial Officiating as Leicester City Falls to Manchester United in FA Cup
Ruud van Nistelrooy did not hold back his frustration following Leicester City’s heartbreaking FA Cup exit, criticizing what he called a disastrous officiating decision. The former Manchester United striker was furious over a controversial call that denied Leicester a fair chance to progress, branding it a complete farce.
The Controversial Moment
The incident unfolded deep into stoppage time, with Leicester on the verge of forcing extra time. However, Harry Maguire headed home a dramatic winner for Manchester United. Replays, however, showed Maguire was in an offside position, sparking outrage among Leicester fans and igniting debates over the goal’s legitimacy.
For Van Nistelrooy, the error was too blatant to ignore. In his post-match interview, he dismissed comparisons to United’s historic “Fergie Time” comebacks, instead sarcastically calling it “Offside Time,” emphasizing that the goal should never have stood.
Van Nistelrooy Blasts Officials Over Maguire’s Offside Goal
Speaking to ITV after the match, Van Nistelrooy slammed the officiating, calling the decision “outrageous” and questioning how such an obvious mistake was allowed.
“This wasn’t about ‘Fergie Time’—this was about ‘Offside Time,’” he fumed. “You don’t need VAR for this. It’s not about millimeters or fine margins; he was half a meter offside! Leicester played their hearts out and deserved at least a chance in extra time, but they were robbed of that opportunity.”
His frustration echoed that of Leicester fans, who were left stunned that Maguire’s goal was allowed to stand. The controversy was further fueled by the fact that VAR was not in use for this round of the FA Cup, as video review technology is only implemented from the Fifth Round onward. While this has been a long-standing policy, it did little to ease Leicester’s frustration.
Leicester’s Brave Performance Ends in Heartbreak
Leicester had put in a spirited display at Old Trafford. They took the lead through Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s well-placed header, showcasing resilience and attacking intent. Caleb Okoli’s incredible goal-line clearance kept United at bay, and the Foxes appeared set for a famous upset.
However, United found a late equalizer through Joshua Zirkzee before Maguire’s controversial stoppage-time winner sealed Leicester’s fate. The Foxes, who had fought valiantly, were left devastated as their FA Cup run came to a cruel end.
Can Leicester Bounce Back?
With their FA Cup hopes shattered, Leicester must now shift their focus to the Premier League, where they are battling relegation. Their struggles continue, with the team losing eight of their last nine matches across all competitions.
Up next is a tough home fixture against Arsenal—a crucial test of their resilience. Whether this controversial defeat fuels a resurgence or further drains their confidence remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Van Nistelrooy’s comments will likely add to the ongoing debate about refereeing standards in English football. But for Leicester, there is little time to dwell on the injustice. They must regroup and fight to secure their Premier League survival.
