Man United news: Ex-Premier League referee demands total overhaul after ‘nonsense’ Wout Weghorst controversy
Keith Hackett has insisted the “nonsense” offside rules surrounding so-called ‘deliberate play’ demand a total re-write after Man United star Marcus Rashford saw his goal chalked off in the 3-1 FA Cup win over Reading on Saturday (28 January).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted the existing laws are “nonsense”, with referees needing to “guess” the intentions of defenders.
As seen in footage from the ITV Football Twitter account (28 January), Weghorst was penalised for offside despite Casemiro’s through ball arriving via a deflection from Reading defender Thomas Holmes.
The Dutchman’s header found Rashford at the back post, who thought he had given Man United a first-half lead – but the goal was ruled out by match referee Darren England following a VAR review – which was prompted by video official Lee Mason.
Holmes was not adjudged to have made a “deliberate play” at the ball.
The rules around offside were criticised heavily after Liverpool’s FA Cup third-round clash with Wolves – which saw goalscorer Mohamed Salah profit from a questionable decision after Toti Gomes’ defensive header.
Football lawmakers IFAB (International Football Association Board) have recently published clarifications to the offside laws which give further benefit of the doubt to defenders in situations like Holmes’.
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “This highlights for me just how daft this rule is.
“We’re all in agreement about how this defender hasn’t made a deliberate play at the ball – but has he?
“I think there’s always an element of doubt. Was it a deflection or deliberate play?
“The law isn’t right when you’re having to make a finite judgement by guessing what a player is doing.
“If I was the player, I would always be saying that it’s a deflection rather than me deliberately playing the ball.
“I think it’s a nonsense law. I’ll keep saying it.
“They’re trying to clear it up, but it’s just made it easier to wipe a goal out. The law isn’t right.”
In other news, Football Insider updates with West Ham ready to accept Man United’s Declan Rice offer this summer.