Ruud van Nistelrooy did not hold back his disappointment after Leicester City’s dramatic elimination from the FA Cup at the hands of Manchester United. The former Red Devils striker expressed his frustration over what he deemed a major refereeing blunder that unfairly denied Leicester a fair shot at progressing. In his view, the decision was not just poor but an outright scandal that cost the Foxes their cup dreams.
The decisive moment occurred in stoppage time when Harry Maguire headed in the winning goal for United. Leicester, who had fought bravely to maintain their lead, were left stunned as the referee allowed the goal to stand despite clear evidence that Maguire was in an offside position. The lack of VAR in this round of the competition meant there was no review, leading to an uproar among Leicester fans and players.
Van Nistelrooy wasted no time in criticizing the decision, insisting that the error was obvious and did not require technology to confirm. Dismissing any comparisons to Manchester United’s well-known “Fergie Time” comebacks, he coined the term “Offside Time” to highlight what he saw as a blatant mistake. He argued that the controversy was not about extended stoppage time but rather about a goal that should never have counted.
Speaking in his post-match interview, Van Nistelrooy was particularly scathing about the referees, calling their handling of the situation “outrageous.” He pointed out that Maguire was significantly offside, not by a matter of inches but by half a meter, making it incomprehensible how the officials failed to spot it. His words resonated with Leicester supporters, who felt their team had been unjustly eliminated.
The controversy was further compounded by the fact that the FA Cup only introduces VAR from the Fifth Round onward. This rule has been in place for some time, but its impact was painfully felt in this match. Had video review been available, the decision would almost certainly have been overturned, preventing what many saw as a grave injustice.
Leicester City had put in a spirited performance, opening the scoring through Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s header. They came close to extending their lead, with Caleb Okoli producing a heroic goal-line clearance to keep United at bay. However, as full-time approached, Joshua Zirkzee equalized before Maguire’s contentious winner sealed Leicester’s fate, leaving the players and fans heartbroken.
With their FA Cup run over, Leicester must now turn their attention back to the Premier League, where they are in a desperate battle to avoid relegation. Their form has been dismal, with eight losses in their last nine games across all competitions. A crucial home fixture against Arsenal now looms, and the Foxes must quickly regroup if they are to turn their season around.
Van Nistelrooy’s criticism is likely to reignite discussions about refereeing standards in English football, especially regarding the use of VAR. But for Leicester, there is little time to dwell on their disappointment. Their primary focus must be survival in the top flight, and how they respond to this setback could determine the outcome of their season.
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