Why Virgil van Dijk’s goal against Man City was wrongly ruled out by VAR
Virgil van Dijk’s goal was disallowed after VAR ruled that Andy Robertson was offside and obstructing Gianluigi Donnarumma’s view.
According to the Premier League match centre, the VAR team fully agreed with referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision. Robertson was deemed to be in an offside position and to have made an “obvious action” that interfered with play — specifically, ducking as Van Dijk’s header flew toward goal, allegedly impeding Donnarumma’s line of sight.
Under Premier League rules, a player is penalized if they block an opponent’s vision, challenge for the ball, attempt to play a nearby ball that affects an opponent, or make an action that impacts an opponent’s ability to play.
However, many believe the officials got it wrong. While Robertson was in front of Donnarumma, replays suggest he didn’t block the goalkeeper’s view. From the camera angle, Donnarumma had a clear sightline and no realistic chance of saving Van Dijk’s header.
Pundits Micah Richards and Gary Neville were both surprised by the call.
Richards said on Sky Sports: “I think it’s harsh. The goalkeeper can see it all the way.”
Neville added: “Robertson is outside the goalkeeper’s eyeline. The keeper’s not getting anywhere near that — Slot has every right to be fuming.”
While Liverpool hadn’t been at their best overall, the decision proved pivotal, ruling out what would have been an equaliser before Nico Gonzalez sealed the win for the hosts.
