Highlights: Liverpool 2-2 Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui says it is “impossible” for his side to have ruled out a winning goal in their FA Cup third round tie with Liverpool at Anfield.
Centre-back Toti headed home, but the assistant referee had his flag for offside against Matheus Nunes, who had taken the original corner and took the ball down the left after Hwang Hee-chan would have brought the band back.
The video assistant referee (VAR) had no camera angle available to provide any evidence to overturn the decision, meaning Wolves had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
Lopetegui, who went into referee Andrew Madley’s room with captain Ruben Neves after the game, said the offside “doesn’t exist” and that it was “a shame” because his players “deserved to go through to the next round.”
He was also angry that Mohamed Salah’s goal, which put Liverpool 2-1 ahead, was allowed to stand, despite the Egyptian striker appearing to be in an offside position when the ball was played to him during the preparation.
What really happened?
Starting with the Wolves’ goal disallowed, Nunes took a corner kick that was headed in by Nathan Collins, then Hwang cut back to Nunes on the left wing.
He dribbled to the byline and his cross was deflected to Hwang, whose shot was turned in by Toti to put Wolves, who had gone 1-0 up before being fouled, 3-2.
The Wolves players celebrated strongly, with Toti removing his shirt, but the assistant had the flag up.
The VAR then reviewed the incident but did not have a clear camera angle to overturn the decision.
Speaking to ITV, Lopetegui said: “We’ve seen it, offside doesn’t exist, I’m sorry. It’s impossible.
“Someone has told him that he is offside, but we have seen the images, he does not exist.
“The decision is wrong. I make mistakes every day, and sometimes too. Today we have the help of VAR, and it’s a shame, because I’m sorry, it’s not offside.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “I’m not sure about his third goal. We have a picture where it might look offside, but I can understand why they’re angry about it. We don’t want VAR to only have one angle . . .
In the Premier League, an explanation such as “Nunes offside” would be shown on the screen in the ground, but the Football Association, which runs the FA Cup, follows directions from Uefa and FIFA and he doesn’t, leading to confusion in the Premier League. crowd and among experts.
“We sat in the studio trying to find out, so are the crowd and the bench,” former Liverpool forward Emile Heskey told ITV.
Former England striker Eni Aluko added: “State-of-the-art stadiums, they just show it on the screen. The clarity has to be there.
“It’s offside, Nunes was in an offside position, but that wasn’t clear initially. Now we have the decision but it has to be clearer.”
Wolves and Lopetegui were already upset that Salah’s goal had been disallowed.
The winger was in an offside position when Cody Gapko tried to cut through the Wolves defence, but Toti headed the ball in to try and stop the attack.
That meant Salah was on, and he controlled the ball and slotted home to put Liverpool ahead.
Lopetegui said: “It’s the same in all leagues. My opinion is that we have to talk a lot with the referees about these types of situations.
“A player took advantage of his position, Salah was offside before Toti touched the ball, so he took advantage. Toti, of course, just goes for it for offside.”
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Match of the Day: “It’s very frustrating. The laws of the game say the goal has to stand, but football fans know it shouldn’t stand. Toti has to face it because he has to believe that Salah is. offside. The law is wrong in our opinion.”
Asked by BBC Match of the Day whether Salah’s goal should have been disallowed and Toti’s allowed, he said: “In my opinion, yes. That’s my clear opinion now.”
Lopetegui added that referee Madley “listened to us” and explained: “This is good for me, this is not usual in Spain. I love to talk, just to show him that offside does not exist. It’s very clear.”
What do the rules say?
Both incidents center around when a new game phase begins and what is a deliberate action.
According to Law 11 of the FA Rules: “A player in an offside position who receives the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays it, including through deliberate handball, is not deemed to have obtained advantage, unless it was a deliberate stop by any opponent.
“A ‘save’ is when a player stops, or attempts to stop, a ball that is entering or very close to the goal with any part of the body except the hands/arms (except the goalkeeper inside the penalty area) .”
The assistant referee believed Nunes was offside when Hwang headed the ball – which started a new phase of play – and the VAR had no clear evidence to overturn that decision.
Salah’s goal was not ruled out following Toti’s header, which started a new phase of play.
Why was there VAR?
Fans and spectators will wonder why there was VAR in this game but not in the previous game between Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United, where there was some dispute over two of the goals, and other games this head of week
VAR only works at Premier League grounds, meaning Anfield, but not Hillsborough.
“The rule should be scrapped” – #bbcfootball views
Dan: Not only do we have to put up with VAR ruining goal celebrations, but not even getting the calls right when he reviews them? I’d prefer the odd human error to this travesty.
New era: Salah was offside and Toti’s goal was not. What is the point of VAR if after looking at the screen they are still wrong?
Martin Philip Odoni: I have to admit that if Salah’s goal wasn’t offside and Totti’s, I don’t understand the offside law at all. And I’m a Liverpool fan.
Richard: If that’s offside and Salah’s isn’t, I honestly don’t understand football anymore. Both advanced the play but did not touch the ball. Both scored in the second phase. One is given. One is forbidden.
Jon Evans: Two outrageous things about the game. 1) I’ve said it before but the offside rule that allowed Salah’s goal is horrible and should be scrapped, I have no idea why it was introduced. 2) How can there not be a camera for Wolves offside? Something is not right.