Ruud van Nistelrooy blasted for ‘cheek’ over Man United v Leicester controversy
Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy complaining about Man United’s match-winner is ironic, according to Richard Keys.
The Foxes and United faced off against one another in the fourth round of the FA Cup as the Red Devils scraped through with a 2-1 win.
Bobby Reid opened the scoring for Leicester in the 42nd minute, smartly getting on the end of a blocked shot from Wilfred Ndidi.
Joshua Zirkzee equalised for United in the 68th minute, as the Dutch striker was presented with an empty net following a blocked effort from Rasmus Hojlund.
Harry Maguire scored the winner for Man United against Leicester in the 93rd minute, rising highest to head past Mads Hermansen.
Maguire’s Man United goal may lead to VAR changes next season, as the decision to not have VAR available in the fourth round of the FA Cup has been widely criticised.
The former Sky Sports presenter wrote in his blog on 10 February, that Van Nistelrooy’s complaints were ironic, due to United getting “dodgy decisions” whilst the Dutchman was a player.
Keys said in his blog: “A lot of fuss was made about United’s winner v Leicester. Oh the irony Ruud. How van Nistelrooy had the cheek to complain about a decision going against his team I don’t know. How many times down the years did he benefit from United getting dodgy decisions?
“Of course there was the usual clamour by lazy pundits and journo’s claiming Maguire’s header wouldn’t have stood if technology had been available. It didn’t need VAR. Maguire was a mile offside. You could see that with the naked eye. It just needed our hapless officials to do their jobs properly.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy right to complain as Leicester knocked out
Football Insider Verdict
Van Nistelrooy has every right to complain about both the decision to not use VAR, and the decision to award Maguire’s goal.
It has been a difficult start to his reign at Leicester for the Dutchman, losing nine of his first 13 matches in all competitions.
A win at Old Trafford against United would have been a poetic moment for the former striker, and likely a revitalising one for his struggling team.
However, dreadful decisions from the FA and the refereeing team now means his side are out of the FA Cup, and have lost once again.
Van Nistelrooy now faces the threat of being sacked by Leicester, and whilst his job performance is ultimately reliant on the performance on his players, not the referees, the decision may come back to haunt the Dutchman.
FA Cup fourth round decisions against Leicester and others highlights VAR issue
Leicester and Birmingham were not the only teams forced to rue the FA’s decision to not use VAR at the weekend.
Kaoru Mitoma scored the match winner for Brighton against Chelsea, and Keith Hackett told Football Insider exclusively that the decision should not have stood after a handball from Tariq Lamptey.
Ipswich were awarded a “soft” penalty against Coventry, in another strange decision.
Having seen a number of mistakes made by referee’s, it is clear that the FA must introduce VAR at the earliest opportunity to avoid major mistakes.