Keith Hackett

Sat 3 September 2022 8:06, UK

Alexander Isak’s second goal as Newcastle United lost 2-1 to Liverpool on Wednesday (31 August) should not have been ruled out for offside, according to Keith Hackett.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed VAR’s current interpretation of offside is making a “laughing stock” of the game.

Isak thought he had doubled his side’s lead at Anfield after being played in behind the Liverpool defence before finishing past Alisson.

The assistant referee raised his flag for offside after the ball was in the back of the net and VAR confirmed his decision.

“I honestly think, I’ve said this before, the technology that’s being used for VAR is making a laughing stock of the game,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.

“I, personally, would like to see these types of goals being allowed. What you have got there is a very experienced assistant referee who is in a great position to judge.

“The game has got to sort itself out with these offside decisions.

“For me, I’m quite clear, the benefit of the doubt should go to the forward. Until we get that, we are going to get these good goals ruled out, which is not good for the game.

“The assistant has seen it as an offside and given it. But if you notice, he’s not in line with the last defender. When we are looking at it in this level of detail we are having to rely on VAR.

“For me, let’s have a look at the World Cup, let’s have a look at semi-automated offside decision making, let’s see if it improves it.

“At the moment, the game is penalising itself by chalking these goals off, I don’t like it.”

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