During the Champions League semi-final first leg, Erling Haaland scored in the 19th minute, giving Manchester City a 1-0 lead over Real Madrid. The goal was reviewed by VAR due to concerns about an offside position. Replays showed that Josko Gvardiol, who assisted Haaland, was behind the defensive line, making the goal valid. According to FIFA’s offside rule, a player is offside only if they are ahead of both the ball and the second-last defender. Officials confirmed Haaland’s goal was legal, leading to intense debates among fans.
During the first leg of the Champions League semi-final between Manchester City and Real Madrid, Erling Haaland’s goal in the 19th minute sparked controversy. The goal underwent a thorough VAR review due to concerns about a potential offside position. The debate centred on Josko Gvardiol’s assist and whether Haaland was ahead of Real Madrid’s defensive line at the time of the pass.
According to football’s offside rule (Law 11), a player is only offside if they are closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last defender when the pass is made. In this case, VAR confirmed that Gvardiol was behind the defensive line, meaning Haaland was onside. Although some viewers speculated that Haaland’s arm was ahead of the ball, offside decisions only consider playable body parts, excluding arms.
The review upheld the goal, giving Manchester City an early 1-0 lead. The incident highlighted the continued debate around VAR and the interpretation of offside rules, with technology playing a crucial role in determining game-changing moments in high-stakes matches.
