Former England international, Gary Lineker, has voiced his strong disapproval regarding the disallowed goal by Victor Osimhen during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg clash between Galatasaray and Liverpool in mid-week.
Recall that the Turkish Super Lig giants defeated the Reds 1-0, thanks to Mario Lemina’s goal in Istanbul.
However, there was a contentious VAR decision surrounding Osimhen’s goal during the encounter.
Osimhen thought he had doubled Galatasaray’s lead, pouncing on an error from Liverpool defender, Ibrahima Konaté.
The Nigerian reacted quickest to a deflected cross, slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.
The stadium erupted in celebration, believing the tie was slipping further from Liverpool’s grasp.
However, their joy was short-lived after the VAR intervened and the goal was chalked off.
The official ruling was that Galatasaray winger Barış Alper Yılmaz, positioned in the build-up, was in an offside position and deemed to have been actively interfering with play by obstructing the vision of Liverpool’s defensive line, creating the chaos that allowed Osimhen to strike.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker did not hold back in his criticism of the process.
Lineker stated, “I have watched it 50 times, and it is absurd.
“There is no impact [from Yilmaz]. It is just a terrible, terrible decision, and VAR just waved it on.”
