Dermot Gallagher Explains Liverpool’s Disallowed Goal at Man City Decision
In a recent analysis, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher provided insight into the controversial disallowed goal by Virgil van Dijk during Liverpool’s match against Manchester City. This incident has sparked significant debate about the interpretation of rules regarding offside and goalkeeper interference.
Incident Overview
During the match, Liverpool’s Van Dijk scored a header that was ruled out. The decision stemmed from the belief that teammate Andy Robertson was blocking the goalkeeper’s line of sight while in an offside position. This resulted in a 3-0 victory for Manchester City.
Gallagher’s Explanation
Gallagher stated that officiating such scenarios involves subjective interpretation, highlighting the inherent complexities in the rules. He mentioned, “It is subjective without doubt and it is a grey area because it’s all about interpretation.” He noted that VAR (Video Assistant Referee) refrained from sending the on-field referee, Chris Kavanagh, to review the decision as it did not constitute a clear and obvious error.
According to Gallagher, VAR confirmed that Robertson was in an offside position and confirmed that he impacted the goalkeeper. “This was an on-field decision, which was no goal. VAR looks and says: ‘Is Robertson in an offside position? Yes. Is he impacting on the goalkeeper?’ They obviously felt yes,” Gallagher explained.
Reactions to the Decision
Despite Gallagher’s reasoning, Jay Bothroyd, a former player, maintained that the goal should have stood. He argued that Robertson’s actions did not impede the goalkeeper significantly. Bothroyd remarked, “When you look at Donnarumma, he can see where the ball is going.” He criticized the decision, suggesting that Robertson was simply out of the way rather than directly affecting play.
Additional Match Context
The match also featured a penalty awarded to Manchester City after a VAR review, where Jeremy Doku was judged to have been tripped by Giorgi Mamardashvili. Gallagher opined that this penalty was justified despite the contact being minimal.
Conclusion
The disallowed goal incident highlights the ongoing challenges in officiating within professional football. The differing interpretations among players and officials underscore the need for clarity in the rules surrounding offside and goalkeeper interference. The debate over decisions like Van Dijk’s disallowed goal will likely continue as football evolves.
