Manchester City were left berating VAR after their shock Champions League exit at the hands of Lyon.
Moussa Dembele came off the bench to score a quick-fire double and down Pep Guardiola’s side in Lisbon.
But his first goal was the source of plenty of controversy after he appeared to foul Aymeric Laporte in the build-up.
The ball also came to Dembele through the legs of a team-mate who was clearly offside as City players appeared to briefly stop as they were caught napping.
Former Premier League referee Peter Walton explained that the offside player was not a factor in the VAR check.
He admitted surprise that the goal was not ruled out after Laporte was tripped in a tangle of legs with Dembele and unable to track back.
VAR, however, determined it was not a clear and obvious error as the goal was given.
“No, it’s not a factor,” Walton said of the offside as VAR checked the goal.
“In fact, what they’re probably looking at is was there a foul on Laporte which stopped him covering the ball.
“The offside is pretty much clear that he’s not offside.
“However was there a foul in the build-up to that goal?”
Upon further replays and after the goal was given, Walton added: “On the offside one you’ve got to consider does the opponent interfere with a player playing the ball? No he doesn’t.
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“Does he touch the ball himself? No he doesn’t.
“So really the offside is immaterial, it’s the foul in the build-up, the one that will cause a little but of
“I was very surprised that the contact wasn’t given as a foul, especially as the consequences were the player who instigated that potential foul actually went on and scored the goal.
“He actually had a material impact in that decision, so I was surprised it wasn’t given as a foul.”
Rio Ferdinand claimed that the foul should have been given - but he insisted City should never have let themselves get into that position.
"We can discuss whether it's a foul or not but it shouldn't get to that point, it shouldn't get there. Disgraceful defending," Ferdinand said.
"If I'm on that pitch I think it's a definite foul. It's got to be. 100% contact. I don't understand how they can't call that. I believe that's a foul there and the man goes on to score the goal."
