Why the officials awarded Bruno Fernandes’ goal despite controversy surrounding Marcus Rashford’s offside position

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Manchester United saw out an emphatic 2-1 victory at Old Trafford to see off their noisy neighbours Manchester City in a heated derby clash. 

Both sides went into the match in fine Premier League form and the three points were crucial to their top four and title hopes.

Jack Grealish opened the scoring in the 60th minute of the match after replacing City’s academy graduate Phil Foden.

Bruno Fernandes then found the back of the net in the 78th minute but the goal was initially ruled out due to Marcus Rashford’s offside position in the buildup.

The decision was consequently met with Fernandes and his teammates hounding the on-field officials as Rashford had not actually touched the ball, meaning his positioning had no impact on the outcome of the attack.

After further examination by the VAR team, the goal stood.

Four minutes later, 18-year-old Alejandro Garnacho assisted Wythenshawe-born Rashford to give the Red Devils the lead in the 82nd minute. It was the England international’s 16th goal of the season.

Fernandes weighs in on an important victory

Post-match, Fernandes spoke to BT Sport about his equaliser, saying: “I think because I was facing the goal, Marcus thought I was in a better position,” he said of Rashford’s decision to leave the ball.

I didn’t know if any of us were offside or not, but it didn’t make a difference because no one was close to him, so the team [City] has to defend. The only one close was one close to me.

”Honestly, it’s always important to win the game. As the manager said before the game. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, what matters is winning and we did it. It was an amazing comeback, a great effort from the team.


“I said it before the game to the team: ‘we look like a team now’. Some time ago, sometimes you saw a team, sometimes we looked a bit for ourselves. Now you see a team that works hard for each other. You see that it pays.”

Footage courtesy of BT Sport.

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7 Comments

  1. OK, understood fine. So the one where Trent jogs after a ball going out for throw in the Brighton vs Liverpool fame, after it was deflected by a Brighton defender was offside why? No defender was attempting to follow that; Trent did not interefere with the defender who deflected the ball, nor indeed did he touch the ball. It would have been a Liverpool throw but was flagged offside because Trent was stood offside when the deflected shot was attempted. No problem with the Man U decision as long as they apply the same rules across the board; to everybody!

  2. Rushford was off side even if he did not touch it, City’s defender eased off there pace, as the flag was raise for off side, Rushford was attempting to play the ball, when, Fernando, told him to leave it as he knew he was off side, but Rashford was shielding the ball and if Fernado, hadn’t been there he would have played the ball, as soon as the flag was raised for correctly Rashford being offside then play should have stopped, and the referee, should have blown the whistle! If this rule is correct that Rashford wasn’t offside, then Haaland should be allowed to stay in the penalty area and wait for the ball to be passed to him as long as he doesn’t touch it, but stops any defender trying to get to it, until City’s other forwards arrive!

  3. If Rashford was in offside poistion the he would of been flagged right away he did not interfere in the keepers sightline

  4. I always understood the offside flag should go up if the player is offside when the ball is played – not when the offside player touches the ball. Has the rule changed that much?

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