“VAR Controversy: Why It Was Missing as Maguire’s Winner Stood in Man Utd vs Leicester”
“Why VAR Was Absent as Maguire’s Controversial Winner Stood in Man Utd vs Leicester Clash”
Manchester United faced Leicester City in an FA Cup showdown at Old Trafford, but the absence of VAR became a major talking point after a controversial late winner from Harry Maguire.
On Friday night, United once again left it late, securing their place in the fifth round of the competition. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Ruben Amorim’s side, as they were booed off at halftime after Bobby Decordova-Reid gave Leicester a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, Joshua Zirkzee leveled the score in the 68th minute before Maguire sealed the victory with a stoppage-time header. Yet, replays suggested Maguire may have been offside when Bruno Fernandes delivered the free-kick.
With no VAR in use, the goal stood, sparking controversy. In previous FA Cup campaigns, VAR was implemented in third and fourth-round fixtures held at Premier League stadiums. However, a rule change for the 2024/25 season means VAR will now only be used from the fifth round onward.
According to The Sun, an FA statement explained: “VAR will only be used in the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup from the Fifth Round onwards. It has been agreed that VAR will be utilized for every match in the Fifth Round through to the Final at Wembley Stadium but will not operate in the Third and Fourth Rounds.”
The FA further clarified that VAR had previously been limited to Wembley and Premier League venues due to infrastructure, workforce, and cost considerations. The new approach aims to provide consistent officiating across all clubs at the same stage of the competition.
Looking ahead, United will return to Premier League action next weekend when they take on Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
