Keith Hackett drops ‘fuming’ reaction to Harry Maguire’s Man United goal v Leicester
Harry Maguire’s winning goal for Man United in the fourth round of the FA Cup should definitely have been disallowed, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the goal should clearly have been ruled out for offside against Leicester City.
Maguire headed a stoppage-time Man United winner to leave Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy furious after the centre-back appeared to be in an offside position when Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick was taken.
Now Hackett has suggested that those connected with the Foxes have every right to be “fuming” over that winning goal scored by Man United.
Man United leave it late to beat Ruud van Nistelrooy
Prior to the game at Old Trafford on Friday, Ruben Amorim’s side had worn jackets to showing a message of support to Lisandro Martinez after news of his ACL injury.
However, it was Leicester who took a 1-0 lead into half-time after Bobby DeCordova Reid headed in from close range.
The introduction of Alejandro Garnacho – who remained at Old Trafford in January despite speculation over a move – after the break helped turn the game back in favour of the hosts, before Joshua Zirkzee equalised midway through the second half.
Maguire then headed in Fernandes’ free-kick in the final minute of stoppage time to secure the win for the hosts.
Replays though showed that the centre-back was one of a number of players clearly in an offside position when the free-kick was taken, but the assistant missed it.
With VAR not in operation at this stage of the FA Cup to overturn the decision Hackett has sympathy with Leicester over that goal.
Hackett stunned as Harry Maguire offside missed
Speaking to Football Insider about those claims of offside against Maguire, the former referee said:
“Leicester fans this morning will be left fuming after Harry Maguire scored the winning goal in additional time from a clear offside position.
“This goal should have been ruled out. The assistant referee should have seen it, because it wasn’t a matter of millimeters, it was well offside.
“And where was VAR? Of course, not in operation for the FA Cup at this stage.”
Man United are next in action when they travel to Tottenham a week on Sunday (16 February) as they continue to work to turn around an underwhelming season.
Leicester meanwhile will no be focusing on their fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League, which continues with the visit of Arsenal to the King Power Stadium on Saturday (15 February).