FT 1-1 FIFA finally overturned Mikel Merino disallowed goal to be counted as goal after latest review shows that they was error in the VAR review – Decision taken this morning
FT 1-1 FIFA finally overturned Mikel Merino disallowed goal to be counted as goal after latest review shows that they was error in the VAR review – Decision taken this morning
Arsenal have received an explanation as to why VAR disallowed Mikel Merino’s equaliser against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
Luis Enrique’s side took the lead against the Gunners after just four minutes when, Ousmane Dembele found the back of the net from the edge of the area after some good play from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia down the left, taking that lead into the half-time interval
Mikel Arteta’s team thought they were level not long after the restart, after a free-kick from Declan Rice hit the back post before Merino headed in unchallenged. But the goal was ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR check.
Explaning why Arsenal’s goal was disallowed, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, working for Prime Video, said: “As the Arsenal players are coming backfrom the the onside position, when Declan Rice takes the freekick, as the players got back onto an onside position, what we’ve got to remember is Merino doesn’t have to be in an offside position.
“If them players are blocking the defender’s ability to play the ball then it will be given offside, and that will be a very subjective call.”
Earlier in the match, Arsenal were controversially not awarded a penalty. The incident came after the Gunners managed to get the ball back into the PSG box before Mikel Merino went down when trying to take a shot. However, replays showed that Joao Neves got a last-ditch toe to the ball before Merino was about to shoot.
Referee Slavko Vincic initially caused confusion inside the Emirates Stadium with his hand movement after the incident causing supporters to believe that a penalty was awared.
Clattenburg explained why the non-penalty decision was correct. “The referee confuses the Arsenal fans by looking like he’s pointing to the spot,” he said..
“You can clearly see he’s in a very good position that the defender clearly touches the ball before there’s any contact on the forwards. Therefore, the decision to play on is the correct one, but the referee confuses everybody by looking like he’s pointing to the spot.”
