Exclusive: Man City to contact UEFA over Jack Grealish injury vs Real Madrid
Man City could speak to UEFA about the injury suffered by Jack Grealish during their Champions League clash with Real Madrid, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider a glitch in the semi-automated offside system may have led to a delay in awarding the opening goal of the game, potentially causing the injury.
Pep Guardiola‘s side welcomed the Spanish giants to the Etihad on Tuesday (11 February) in the first-leg of their Champions League knockout play-off.
It was the hosts who took the lead in that match through Erling Haaland, although the wait to officially award that goal may have caused further problems for Man City.
Jack Grealish injured after VAR delay
That opening goal for the Premier League champions came after Josko Gvardiol had chested a ball down to Haaland inside the Madrid penalty.
That came with both players ahead of the last opposition defender, meaning there was a check to see if Haaland was behind the ball and therefore onside for the goal to stand.
While such decisions are usually dealt with more quickly in UEFA competitions than the Premier League due to the semi-automated offside system, there was a wait of four minutes before this goal was given.
Ten minutes after the goal was officially given, Man City star Jack Grealish was forced off by injury, which prompted an outraged Alan Shearer to claim that the delay in awarding the goal may have caused the problem.
Hackett has now suggested that could lead to Guardiola’s side speaking to UEFA about the blow to the 29-year-old.
Keith Hackett suggests Man City over Jack Grealish blow
After being asked by Football Insider what he made of the delay in awarding the goal, and whether Man City could take action over the injury then suffered by Grealish, the former referee said:
“It is certainly unusual in the Champions league for the decision to take four minutes. I frankly can only assume that there may well have been a glitch in the Semi Automated Offside system used in UEFA games.
“I have no doubts that if the delay in the decision consequently contributed to the injury sustained by Jack Grealish that Manchester City will be submitting their observations to UEFA.
“On a cold night standing around for this length of time does expose players to potential muscle/ tendon injuries.
“With this risk you might expect the fitness coach to come to the touchline and instruct the players to do some stretching etc to avoid injury risk.”
Amid suggestions he is “angry” with his amount of game at Man City, Grealish will be hoping he is not out of action for long due to this injury.