Sport: Should Bruno’s Goal Have Been Ruled Out?

SHOULD BRUNO’S GOAL HAVE BEEN RULED OUT?

The Manchester Derby at the Old Trafford has left fans, pundits and officials with many talking points. Manchester United’s equalizer has been the major point of argument of the game. After City went ahead with a goal from Jack Grealish through a Debruyne’s cross, Bruno Fernandez put United level. Bruno hit the ball past Elderson from a scything pass from Casemiro.

The assistant referee raised his flag for a Rashford’s offside. However, the referee, Stuart Attwell, allowed the goal to stand with replays showing that Rashford did not make any physical contact with the ball before Bruno shot it home. The debate has been whether Rashford made any interference with the ball.

The offside rule is described on page 93 of the ‘IFAB Laws of the Game’. The Law states that:

“A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a teammate is only penalized on becoming involved in active play by:  

1. Interference with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a teammate; 

2. Or interfering with an opponent by;

A. Preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision;

B. Or challenging an opponent for the ball,

C. Or clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when his action impacts on an opponent.

D. Or making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball”.

The object of the debate has been what different parties interprets as ‘interference’. Interference here does not necessarily have to be a physical contact. 

Some think it is vivid from the play that Rashford’s movement towards the ball tricked Walker to concentrating on him (Rashford) rather than closing in on Bruno before he took the shot. 

Manchester City defender, Manuel Akanji, after the game said:

“In the situation , I played him (Rashford) offside, but he plays until the last second. I understand he didn’t touch the ball, but for me, it is clearly offside”. 

However, NBC analyst and former Premier League defender, Graeme Le Saux feels otherwise. He agrees that the offside player’s run affected the movement of the defender: 

“As a defender, anyone on the pitch making a forward run is affecting what I do”; but he feels the call was correct:

“Now, the way the law stands, the goal should stand (it) rightly stood because he didn’t make any contact”

Manchester won the game from a Rashford’s goal, teed by Garnacho, towards the end of the game. United are now third in the Premier League after this win at Old Trafford.

 

Akinjide Adebowale (Maestro)