Mike Dean insists officials dropped major VAR blunder in Man City vs Fulham

02 September 2023 , 15:27

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Mike Dean insists officials dropped major VAR blunder in Man City vs Fulham

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean insisted Manchester City’s controversial go-ahead goal against Fulham on Saturday should NOT have stood.

With the game finely poised at 1-1 at the Etihad, the champions went ahead thanks to a header from Nathan Ake - five minutes into first-half stoppage time. The Dutchman’s effort found the bottom corner past the despairing dive of Cottagers ‘keeper Bernd Leno. But the visitors were far from happy, appealing for offside and immediately complaining to match official Michael Oliver as City players ran off to celebrate.

Ake’s header, from 12 yards, came from an outswinging Phil Foden corner and as the ball made its way to the versatile defender, Fulham’s defenders had cleared the six-yard box. That had left Manuel Akanji standing in an offside position, and the Swiss was forced to jump over Ake’s effort on it’s way to the bottom corner.

Nathan Ake heads towards goal... (AP)

...Manuel Akanji was forced to jump over the ball as it moved on its way to beating Bernd Leno

After a VAR review, the goal was given.

And that decision was immediately criticised by former ref - and ex-VAR official - Dean, now working on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday.

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"In my opinion no it just can't stand. He's jumped over the ball, he has to be interfering...because the player is there, he [Leno] is hesitating."

“It just has to be disallowed.”

Michael Dawson added: “Leno takes an extra step because he thinks Akanji is going to take an extra touch.”

Former City goalkeeper Shay Given, said: "I’m surprised it’s not been given for an offside. Akanji is clearly in the line of vision of the goalkeeper, he jumps out of the way, and Leno waits then reacts after it passes Akanji.

"So you can’t say to me he’s not interfering with the goalkeeper’s line. He has to wait in case Akanji touches the ball."

However, according to the laws of the game, the law states when referencing interference that it is only punishable when "clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent". In this case, if Akanji was trying to move out of the way of Ake's header, knowing he was in an offside position, then, according to the laws, the match officials got it right.

Sometimes, you just have to admit that the law is an ass.

Earlier, Tim Ream had cancelled out Julian Alvarez's 31st minute opener, before Erling Haaland made it 3-1 to the hosts just before the hour mark. The Norwegian giant duly nabbed his fifth Premier League goal of the season, and City's fourth of the day, from the penalty spot in the 70th minute.

Alex Richards