The goal of French star Kylian Mbappe, who led his country to a 2-1 victory over Spain to win the European Nations League, was questioned even by the French newspapers, while some argued that the goal was correct according to the new law. Is there really a new law?

Is it intrusion or not?

Of course, the Spanish newspapers, including the newspaper “MARCA”, were among the most skeptical of the goal, and even went so far as to compare the loss against France to the defeat against South Korea in the 2002 World Cup, titled “The technology of the mouse in the presence of the Ghandour”, in a hint of the injustice he was subjected to. Her team - according to their description - is from the former Egyptian international referee Gamal Al-Ghandour.

Mbappe brings France closer to winning 🏆

💬 Was the French star offside? #EuropeanNationalLeague |

#Spain_France #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/vnzjlI9lwq

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 10, 2021

This prompted Al-Ghandour to respond to the newspaper with a post on his Facebook account, in which he said, "France's goal in Spain is a correct goal. There is a deliberate play by the defender of Spain, while the French striker was in an offside position."

He added, "I thank Marca for comparing the correct mouse referee's decision, which confirms his understanding of the offside article with my decision in 2002, and despite the bad intention in the statement, he acknowledges the correctness of the decision, at least on my part, because it was the responsibility of the assistant referee."

While the French newspaper, L'Equipe, described Mbappe's goal as "doubtful", stressing that Mbappe was in an offside position at the moment of passing the ball from his colleague.

Offside Calculation Conditions

In order to resolve this arbitration case, which has sparked widespread controversy that may last for years, we must return to Article 11 of the Football Law dedicated to offside only due to its importance, and the first line in it states that being in an offside position is not considered a violation, meaning that not every offside player is punished on it.

The article also stipulates that a player is only penalized for being in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by one of his teammates, if he participates in active active play through:

1- Interfering with play by playing or touching the ball.

2- Interfering with the opposing player by preventing him from playing the ball or clearly blocking the opponent’s line of sight or competing for the ball.

3- To have the opportunity to “take advantage” by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when the ball rebounds from the goalposts, crossbar, opponents or referees, or the ball rebounds to him from the opponent deliberately saving the ball.

🎙️ Aboutrika @trikaofficial: Mbappe's goal is correct according to the new law, but...#EuropeanNationalLeague |

#Spain_France #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/x30ZGtBOLz

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 10, 2021

Indeed, Mbappe was offside at the moment of passing from his colleague Theo Hernandez, and if the ball went to him directly, the offside would be immediately counted and the goal was canceled without any controversy, but the Spanish defender Eric Garcia was like a bear that killed its owner and caused the health of the goal due to an amendment more than 10 years ago - and not new as Some say - that the defender - which is any player in his half - who tries to move the ball away and actually touches it, but it goes to the attacker, is a new game and continues to play even if this attacker is offside, as in the case of Mbappe.

If we put the case of Mbappe under the previous three conditions, we would be sure of the correctness of the goal, as Mbappe did not play the ball and was behind Garcia and not in front of him, as he was far from him and did not hinder him from playing the ball or keeping it away. In front of the goal and counters from those specified by the text, not a deliberate "new" game of the defender as Garcia did.

  • Former international referee