Harry Maguire was Manchester United’s hero of their FA Cup fourth round win over Leicester City with a goal that will perhaps have been ruled out on one other day.
Trailing on the break after one other wretched first-half performance at Old Trafford, United showed some life within the second-half with Alejandro Garnacho coming off the bench to lift his side.
Joshua Zirkzee levelled for the hosts after 68 minutes with the tie heading towards extra-time.
Maguire rose to fulfill Fernandes’ free kick to bail his side out with a high-quality header two minutes into added time however the England international appeared to have strayed offside as he met the ball.
The linesman didn’t raise his flag nevertheless and with no video assistant referee [VAR] in play, the goal stood.
Maguire’s goal would almost actually have been chalked off had VAR been present. Nevertheless, the FA announced late last 12 months the system wouldn’t be utilized in this competition until the fifth road onwards.
An announcement from the FA in December said: ‘Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will only be utilized in the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup from the Fifth Round onwards.
‘It has been agreed that VAR might be utilised for each match within the Fifth Round of the competition through to the Final at Wembley Stadium, and is not going to be in operation for the Third and Fourth Rounds.
‘VAR has only been utilized in the Emirates FA Cup previously for matches at Wembley Stadium and at Premier League grounds because of the infrastructure, workforce and costs which are required for its operation.
‘This decision ensures that there’s a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs participating in the identical stage of the competition.’
The choice shocked Ian Wright and Roy Keane within the ITV studio with the previous Manchester United captain convinced the linesman must have spotted the offside in real time.
‘Look where the linesman is! He’s bang consistent with it,’ an incredulous Wright said.
‘That’s only a poor decision,’ Keane said. ‘We speak about VAR, whether it should or shouldn’t be here however the linesman has got to see that. United took full advantage. But they got out of jail today.’
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