English referee Anthony Taylor's award of France's winning goal against Spain in the European Nations League final sparked widespread controversy due to the position of striker Kylian Mbappe. Was the player offside?
And why was the goal calculated without returning to VAR technology?
The French team overturned a goal - scored by Mikel Oriazabal for Spain in the 64th minute - to win thanks to the goals of Karim Benzema in the 66th minute and Kylian Mbappe in the 80th minute.
The replay footage showed that Mbappe was ahead when the ball was passed to him, which led many to believe that the player was offside and that the goal would be disallowed.
🎙️ Aboutrika @trikaofficial: Mbappe's goal is correct according to the new law, but...#EuropeanNationalLeague |
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The English referee awarded the goal to the astonishment of the Spanish Al-Mentab players and many spectators.
And the Spanish newspaper “MARCA” reported that the referee explained to the players that the goal was calculated because defender Eric Garcia interfered in the shot and touched the ball, which means the start of a new game and the absence of an offside case.
The referee made it clear that he did not need to return to the VAR technique, because the intervention of the Spanish defender and his touching the ball made the French striker in a legal position.
The former Spanish international referee, Itoraldi Gonzalez, said that the referee’s decision was correct, and he said in statements to the Spanish newspaper “AS” that Mbappe was offside at the moment the ball was launched, but the defender threw himself on the ground in an attempt to control the ball, and indicated that Mbappe’s situation differed. Once the Spanish defender touches the ball, which makes the goal right.
He explained that the goal would have been canceled if Mbappe had interfered in the game and affected Garcia's ability to deal with the ball.
The former Spanish referee took the opportunity to criticize the players, and said that the law is clear and players must spend part of their long free time to study the football law, which includes only 17 articles.
Mbappe brings France closer to winning 🏆
đź’¬ Was the French star offside? #EuropeanNationalLeague |
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— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 10, 2021
On the other hand, the opponents of the referee's decision based on the fact that Mbappe was in a chain position before Garcia intervened in the shot, and therefore the offside should have been calculated regardless of what the Spanish defender did later.
The Spanish newspaper, Mundo Deportivo, quoted former referee Parnicia Monteiro as saying that the referee erred in not calculating offside;
Because defender Garcia did not intentionally pass the ball and intervened in order to cut it and keep it away from the French striker.
Away from interpretations of the law, Spain coach Luis Enrique tried to distance himself from the controversy and said - in statements after the meeting - "I don't want to say anything, I'm not used to talking about referees and focus on what we do. I've been a coach for more than 10 years, and I haven't spoken Badly about the referees at all. I focus on giving my team the best it can and accepting wins and losses."