VAR may have made a huge error during Newcastle United’s victory over Burnley on Sunday, with images suggesting Maxwel Cornet’s goal should have been ruled out for offside during the build-up.
The Magpies ended the season with a 2-1 victory at Turf Moor thanks to a brace from Callum Wilson, with the victory resigning the Clarets to the Championship. The Toon were 2-0 up before Ivory Coast international Cornet halved the deficit, but it seems the goal should not have been allowed.
As images posted on Twitter indicate (taken from Sky Sports), Wout Weghorst appeared to be in Martin Dubravka’s line of sight while in an offside position as the Slovakian goalkeeper saved Cornet’s first effort, with the forward burying the rebound.
TIF Thoughts on the incident…
Ultimately, the goal did not matter. Leeds United won 2-1 away at Brentford, and Burnley needed to therefore triumph to stay in the top tier – while Newcastle held on to secure a superb 11th-place finish considering their start to the campaign. However, the goal could have had a huge impact on things at the bottom of the table, so it was perhaps rather by luck rather than judgement that it did not have an impact.
According to IFAB Law 11, if an attacker is in an offside position and is obstructing the goalkeeper’s line of vision, he must be penalised because he prevents an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball.
Should the goal have been disallowed?
Yes
No
Managing six shots on target to their opponents’ five, it is hard to argue that Newcastle did not deserve to win the match, and the victory sees them finish 11th in the Premier League table. A fantastic end to the season gives Eddie Howe and co something to build on next term.