Former referee calls for offside rule change after Alessia Russo’s controversial disallowed goal | OneFootball

Alessia Russo saw her goal disallowed against France by the tiniest of margins. Credit: ITV

A former referee has urged for offside rules to be changed after Alessia Russo saw her goal disallowed during England’s 2-1 Euro 2025 defeat to France.

Former Premier League and FIFA referee Keith Hackett has weighed in on the fallout from Russo’s disallowed goal against France, urging football’s lawmakers to review and modernise the offside rule.

Speaking after the incident, Hackett said the game is being let down by outdated interpretations that don’t serve the spirit of football.

He told Football Insider: “The laws of the game talk about the spirit of the game, and this is against the spirit of the game. In 50 years of refereeing, I’ve always believed the benefit of the doubt should always go to the forward, rather than the defender. I don’t like the law acting as a defender.”

Hackett called for a more forgiving threshold for offsides, similar to suggestions previously made by Arsene Wenger so that goals aren’t chalked off due to body parts being millimetres ahead of the last defender.

Why was Alessia Russo’s goal disallowed against France?

England thought they had taken a crucial lead when Alessia Russo finished a well-worked move in the first half of their Euro 2025 group-stage match against France – only for her goal to be disallowed.

However, after a lengthy VAR review, Beth Mead was judged to be marginally offside in the build-up.

The goal was overturned and moments later, France capitalised, scoring twice in quick succession.

England responded with a late goal from Keira Walsh but ultimately fell 2-1, leaving the fans and pundits furious with the decision.

England’s reaction to Alessia Russo’s disallowed goal

The decision prompted a strong reaction from England’s camp.

Head coach Sarina Wiegman admitted the ruling was “technically correct,” but said it raised wider questions.

“It feels harsh,” she said post-match. “We prepare for everything, but these moments make you wonder if the technology is working for or against the game.”

Players echoed their head coach, with Russo calling it “gutting” and Lucy Bronze suggesting decisions like these “take the soul out of football.”

What could change with the offside law?

The latest controversy has rekindled the long-running debate around how we use VAR, especially in marginal offside calls. Critics are arguing that the system was meant to correct clear and obvious errors and that it was not to be used for freeze-frame decisions to the millimetre.

Hackett agreed stating that when fans and players are leaving a game feeling robbed, the technology is no longer serving its purpose.

The former referee is among several people pushing for a “daylight” rule or a margin of error that gives attackers the benefit of the doubt. Wenger, in his role with FIFA, has previously proposed to allow attackers to be onside if any part of their body in contact with the ground is level with the last defender.

Changes like these could prevent goals like Russo’s from being ruled out and reduce the current frustration surrounding VAR.

What’s Next For England?

England now faces a crucial match to keep their Euro 2025 hopes alive.

The Lionesses face Euro 2017 champions the Netherlands on Wednesday. Should they lose to the Dutch, then the defending European champions will likely be sent packing.

According to the UK’s best betting sites, the Lionesses are 4/6 favourites to beat the Netherlands on Wednesday.

A draw is priced at 11/5 while a Netherlands win is currently at odds of 16/5.

Beyond the tournament, this latest incident is likely to fuel growing pressure on IFAB and football authorities to rethink how the technology and the law of the game can exist together and interact functionally.