Liverpool news: Ex-Premier League referee demands laws to be rewritten after controversial Fabinho footage emerges
Keith Hackett has called for the offside law to be rewritten after Real Madrid had a goal ruled out in their 1-0 win over Liverpool in Saturday’s (28 May) Champions League final.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed the officials made the right call on Karim Benzema’s goal but the law should be simplified.
Benzema thought he had opened the scoring when he found himself with only Andy Robertson to beat after the ball fell to him from Fabinho.
The ball came off the 28-year-old’s knee as he and Ibrahima Konate attempted to clear the ball.
Real Madrid eventually scored via Vinicius junior in the second half and held on to secure their 14th Champions League trophy.
“Was it deflected or was it an actual attempt to play the ball? For me, it was a deflection therefore the match officials got it right,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“It highlights how stupid the law is. You almost need a book in front of you to determine how the law is interpreted.
“As someone who understands the law I’m going back to re-read it. That shouldn’t be the case.
“It needs simplifying. I would suggest that once the ball leaves the foot if a player is an offside position then they effectively become active and are ruled offside.
“This nonsense of deflection or play on. It should be, if he receives possession in an offside position, pull it back.
“It’s like handball. Just introduce the word deliberate then we’ll all understand it.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has issued a ‘gigantic’ Liverpool claim as £400million-a-year talks are set to begin.