Ex-Fifa official: Alexandre Lacazette victim of major VAR blunder as controversial Arsenal footage analysed
Alexandre Lacazette’s disallowed goal as Arsenal beat Norwich City on Saturday (19 February) should not have been chalked off for offside.
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the “really tight call”.
Lacazette thought he had opened the scoring at the Emirates when he converted from just outside the six-yard box from a Granit Xhaka cross.
As shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme, the assistant referee immediately raised their flag to rule out the goal.
The VAR ruling vindicated his decision as Xhaka was shown to be in an offside position when he received a pass from Emile Smith Rowe.
However, Hackett claimed it was such a tight call that the benefit of the doubt should have got to Arsenal as the attacking team.
He said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “The Lacazette goal that was ruled out for offside, I thought that was onside.
“That was a really tight call.
“We’ve had this since the beginning of the season, there was a statement saying the broadcast lines were going to be a bit wider.
“On the face of it, I thought that was onside.”
Lacazette has endured a torrid time in front of goal this season having just found the net three times in 18 Premier League games.
He has captained the side ever since Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang was ostracised from the squad but is out of contract at the end of the season.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has dropped a £63million Arsenal reveal as Stan Kroenke’s plan is revealed.