Ex-Fifa official: Aston Villa profited from major injustice as Odsonne Edouard footage analysed
Keith Hackett has slammed the decision to disallow Crystal Palace midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp’s goal for offside against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Fifa and Premier League official was “surprised” by the call and urged the benefit to be given to the attacking side.
As shown on Sky Sports (20 August), Schlupp thought he had given Patrick Vieira’s side the lead in the first half only for VAR official John Brooks to rule out the goal.
Odsonne Edouard was found to be offside in the build-up to the goal in what was a marginal call.
It would ultimately matter little as Palace went on to win 3-1 over Steven Gerrard’s side.
When asked by Football Insider for his assessment of the offside call, Hackett said: “I was surprised.
“I looked at it very closely.
“We talk about wanting more goals in the game. This is where the technology is behind the actual action. I do not think the technology is not good enough at this moment in time.
“Under the remit they talked about last season, I was surprised. Tight calls of this nature should not see goals ruled out. I am convinced about that.
“In a way, there is overindulgence of VAR. They are going on the defensive. If in doubt, they rule it out.
“Whereas my view is, if it is tight give the benefit of the doubt to the forward. I thought that was what they were going to do. They are clearly not operating that remit.
“The player was not gaining any advantage whatsoever.”
In other news, a medical insider has claimed Diego Carlos may not recover until 2024 after Aston Villa source’s update.