Referees Disallow Manchester United Goal On Controversial Call

Jesse Lingard thought he scored Manchester United’s crucial equalizer against Wolfsburg in the Champions League, only for the refs, after a long discussion, to take his goal away in controversial fashion.

As you can see, Juan Mata is right in front of the Wolfsburg keeper in an offside position as Lingard’s shot comes curling in. While he doesn’t make direct contact with the ball, which would certainly have justified an offside call, he sort of shimmies out of the way. However, since he is so close to the ball and the keeper, the referees decided Mata interfered with either the play with that little shoulder dip or with the keeper’s vision and thus ruled the play offside, as the rules allow.

United need at least a draw from this match to guarantee passage into the Round of 16. They have about 40 minutes to get it.

[FS1]