Manchester United Advances in FA Cup with Disputed Winner

Manchester United secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the FA Cup, but their winning goal was shrouded in controversy. In the closing moments of the match, Harry Maguire headed home the decisive goal despite being in a clear offside position.

Under normal circumstances, such a goal would be disallowed. However, due to a quirk in the FA Cup rules, the goal was permitted to stand. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology is not being utilized in this round of the competition, with its implementation scheduled to begin from the fifth round onwards.

The FA explained that VAR will only be used from the fifth round through to the final at Wembley Stadium. In previous years, VAR was available in earlier rounds, but only at Premier League venues due to infrastructure and cost constraints.

Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, a former Manchester United star, expressed his frustration with the decision: “The offside was about half a meter. It’s difficult to accept. We deserved to go to extra time and possibly a penalty shootout.”

Roy Keane, another Manchester United legend, didn’t mince words, calling it a “terrible decision.”

The match saw Leicester take an early lead through Bobby De Cordova-Reid just before halftime. Manchester United equalized via Joshua Zirkzee in the 68th minute, setting the stage for Maguire’s controversial winner in stoppage time.

This incident has reignited debates about the use of technology in football and the consistency of officiating across different competitions. While Manchester United advances, questions linger about the fairness of the result and the potential impact of VAR’s absence in these crucial early rounds of the FA Cup.