Controversy struck in the officiating of the Premier League again last night as Aston Villa complained of an offside before Manchester City scored their opener.
The furore caused by the decision to let the goal stand only serves to remind Leeds United of how ridiculous the decision was to chalk off Patrick Bamford’s goal at Crystal Palace.
City’s Rodri was returning to the action from an ocean of offside space behind the Villa defence when he stole in and nicked the ball off Tyrone Mings last night.
The play proceeded and Bernardo Silva ultimately rifled home for the hosts in the 79th minute. Dean Smith was even sent off for his protests on the touchline.
Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body responsible for refereeing in English football, released a statement after the match explaining why Rodri was not offside.
It said: “Rodri was initially standing in an offside position as the ball was played upfield.
“Tyrone Mings deliberately played the ball, controlling it on his chest. As soon as Mings deliberately played the ball the following law applies:
“‘A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays the ball, including by deliberate handball, is not considered to have gained an advantage unless it was a deliberate save by any opponent.’
“As the law deems Rodri has not gained an advantage, he has not committed an offside offence and play should be allowed to continue.
“Rodri legitimately took possession of the ball from Mings, starting the attack which resulted in the goal.”
The law is the law and the referees can only follow it. The goal does, and should, stand, but you cannot help but scoff when you see the side-by-side comparison with Bamford’s run at Selhurst Park.
Rodri, between 15 and 20 yards behind Villa’s last man: onside.
Bamford, everything but a forearm in front of two Palace defenders: offside.
While bad, incorrect decisions have always occurred in football, VAR has only added fuel to the fire and meant there can be no excuses for the, still, controversial calls being made.
Instances like last night just shine a light on the farce which took place in Croydon all those months ago when Bamford's goal would have stood if common sense had been applied.
