Harry Maguire: Ex-Fifa official demands law change as Man United controversy analysed
Keith Hackett has slammed the offside law after Man United defender Harry Maguire scored an own-goal against Tottenham on Saturday.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League official claimed the goal would have disallowed under previous law.
Maguire turned the ball into his own net in the second half of Man United’s 3-2 win over Spurs on Saturday.
As shown on Sky Sports (12 March), Tottenham defender Cristiano Romero was waiting behind Maguire in an offside position.
His presence potentially impacted on the United captain’s decision to make a play for the ball.
When asked for his assessment of the goal, Hackett told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs:
“The law doesn’t allow the referee to judge whether there is a psychological impact on Maguire.
“Yes, Romero is in an offside position but he has not committed an offence in law.
“I don’t like this law. In my day, it would have been given offside. I would have blown.
“The law changes and the interpretation changes. The aspect of interfering with play is down to the referee.
“Managers always say to players, ‘Play to the whistle.’ The problem is, there are instances where players stood in offside positions impact the player. We are not allowed to judge that though.
“Maguire has got to be a quality defender. As a Sheffield lad, he’s not having a great time right now. He’s like Calamity Jane.”
In other news, Man United have been told to make a behind-the-scenes change after what pundit has ‘never seen before’.