Proof: Man City’s opener against Real Madrid should have been ruled out for offside | OneFootball

The clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid was always expected to be intense, and as predicted, controversy was not far behind.

The opening goal of the match has ignited a fierce debate, with many questioning the validity of Erling Haaland’s strike.

Haaland found the back of the net in the early stages, but the major talking point is whether he was offside when the ball was played to him.

Despite the use of VAR and UEFA’s semi-automated offside technology (SAOT), the goal was allowed to stand, raising concerns over the accuracy of the review process.

It was OFFSIDE!

After the match, Archivo VAR conducted a detailed assessment of the incident on their account.

In the 18th minute, Josko Gvardiol controlled the ball with his chest before Haaland slotted it past Thibaut Courtois. However, the controversy lies in Haaland’s positioning at the time of the pass.

His left foot appeared to be ahead of the ball, which should have been enough to rule the goal offside.

It took the match officials nearly four minutes to assess the play, but the final image used to confirm the decision was taken from an unclear angle.

Several refereeing experts have also raised concerns about how the offside lines were drawn. The camera angle used to analyse the situation did not provide the best perspective, and it appeared to favour Haaland.

Crucial time for Real Madrid

At the time of Haaland’s strike, Real Madrid had been in control and looked capable of taking the lead themselves. However, conceding in such a contentious manner disrupted their momentum.

Despite this setback, Los Blancos showed resilience and fought back, eventually securing a dramatic victory thanks to Jude Bellingham’s last-minute winner.

While the result ultimately favoured Real Madrid, the debate over Haaland’s goal will continue.

The incident has once again highlighted the inconsistencies in VAR decisions, leaving everyone demanding greater transparency in officiating.