VAR expert Dale Johnson has explained why Gabriel Martinelli’s goal against reigning FA Cup champions Manchester United was disallowed. The Brazilian wheeled away in celebration in the 19th minute before realising that the linesman’s flag was held aloft.
Gabriel Jesus attempted to thread a pass to Martinelli between the lines of the Red Devils but a clean through ball was prevented after it deflected off Maguire’s foot – but ESPN’s Johnson has suggested that the defender’s touch ‘doesn’t reset the phase’.
What has saved Maguire and his teammates from conceding early on in the all-Premier League encounter is because the central defender’s stuck-out leg cannot be considered a “deliberate [controlled] play”, the VAR expert wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
