Gary Lineker questioned how VAR officials were able to judge Jean-Philippe Mateta onside for his first of two goals in Leicester City’s draw with Crystal Palace.
The Frenchman played his part as the hosts denied Steve Cooper a first top-flight win in charge of City last Saturday – as did the video assistant referee [VAR]. For the first of his strikes, it took a review to overrule the linesman’s original decision that he had trailed beyond Wout Faes and into an offside position.
“I was a bit heartbroken, Micah [Richards], with Leicester,” said Lineker, reviewing the game on The Rest is Football podcast. “Played really well in the first half – played some good football. Got 2-0 up just after half time then they had a goal that was originally ruled out for offside and then VAR decided it wasn’t.
“I don’t know how they did that but anyway. Then you just kind of thought ‘Oh they’re going to equalise’, and of course they did.”
Leicester themselves remain just as puzzled as their former striker over the decision, so much so that it has been reported they are taking action over the matter. It is said they are officially seeking clarity from the Premier League if the final onside decision was reached using accurate footage from the moment Tyrick Mitchell’s cross was played, owing to the inconclusive nature of the footage provided at the time.
On the podcast, co-host Alan Shearer couldn’t resist but poke fun at Lineker over the situation his old team found themselves on Saturday.
“Micah, you should have heard him fuming when the lines were being drawn for that offside to make it 2-1 – there was steam coming out of those ears, honestly, he was getting so angry,” he said to a chorus of laughs, before pointing out: “Semi-automated [offside technology, SAOT] is on its way.”
The English top-flight is due to introduce the system successfully implemented in recent international tournaments and the Champions League in recent seasons, but only midway through the 2024/25 campaign.
“I think it will be a good thing because we’ll get it, we’ll just be told and perhaps trust it,” Lineker answered back. “At the moment, the angle they had was so unclear. When you looked at it you just went ’he’s offside – he’s so clearly offside!’.
“There is no way when it is that narrow a margin that they can tell, because of the contact of the ball and knowing exactly when he hits it. It took about three minutes and the longer it took I thought they’re gonna give this offside. I was completely biased, obviously, but I’d say the same for any other team, just not quite with the same passion.”
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