The fun police are at it again
James Maddison thought he had doubled Leicester City’s lead against Tottenham with an emphatic finish past Hugo Lloris, only to have his goal disallowed after a VAR review.
The midfielder had made a seemingly perfectly timed run in behind the Tottenham defence and was picked out by James Justin. After a brilliant first touch, Maddison hit the ball across Hugo Lloris into the far corner before racing away to celebrate.
Nobody batted an eyelid. Except maybe Spurs fans in disbelief that their team had surrendered another easy goal. But nobody objected to the goal standing.
The professional grasses at Stockley Park had other ideas, though.
Reviewing the goal, the VAR checked a possible offside, drawing some arbitrary lines on the a freezeframe from an unreliable angle, before coming to the conclusion that James Maddison’s armpit was marginally in front of the last defender, and therefore the goal should be disallowed.
How close is that?! 🔍
James Maddison takes down Justin's pass beautifully and slots it past Lloris but he is adjudged to have been offside by VAR. Very harsh.
📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
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Fans were not impressed, with many saying VAR is ruining football.
VAR is ruining football, at least go by the feet not the bloody elbow.
— uw0tm8 (@rags2richesm8) December 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/RealDanOgden/status/1340681987896602630
Ruling goals out because of a players arm when they can’t score with their arm is baffling. What advantage is pointing where you want the ball or leaning forward to start your run. VAR OUT https://t.co/fkJyMXHEvu
— rockstars (@rockstarspod) December 20, 2020
Twitter user David Rawson pointed out that in the screengrab used by VAR, the ball is blurred, meaning it’s moving, and had therefore been kicked a few frames beforehand.
“They need to look a fraction earlier, and if they can’t (because the frame rate isn’t quick enough) they need to stop pretending this thing is accurate,” he said.
So in the image, the ball is blurred. Meaning it’s moving. Meaning it’s been played. So they need to look a fraction earlier. And if they can’t (because the frame rate isn’t quick enough) they need to stop pretending this thing is accurate and leave well alone https://t.co/Kz3RBwHHe5
— David Rawson (@TheTivoliEnd) December 20, 2020
