Football enthusiasts have claimed that the VAR line was wrongly drawn over Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s foot for Haji Wright’s offside in the FA Cup semi-final showdown between Manchester United and Coventry City.
However, officials have come out to maintain their stance on the decision being rightful and appropriate.
VAR ruled Wright offside by a distance after he assisted Victor Torp in the 121st minute at Wembley Stadium.
Manchester United followers all over the globe and players who represent the club had eggs in their faces for some time, while the referee consulted with VAR over the goal.
However, their blushes were spared, as following the review, the goal was chalked off due to an offside in the build-up to it.
Coventry City thought they had masterminded a comeback against Manchester United in the FA Cup, but unfortunately for them, they had to battle through the lottery of penalties and ultimately crashed 4-2 via spot-kicks.
Did VAR do its job rightfully or it destroyed what could have been an iconic win for Coventry City?
Several individuals felt the marginal decision was harsh and that it bashed what could have been one of the greatest FA Cup moments ever.
However, there were those on the other side of the divide, who felt that VAR was simply doing its primary job.
Anyway, hawkshaws have zoomed in on the moment Wright was adjudged to be offside and are of the notion that VAR lines that condemned him were drawn over the foot of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, as opposed to the tip of his boot.
However, strong reports back the decision of the on-field officials, with referee Robert Jones being the man with the whistle for the epic clash.
Reports express that the line was not drawn over Wan-Bissaka’s foot as social media commenters had rumored, with his foot being close to or on the ground possibly being the reason for that impression.
VAR lines are drawn on the extreme part of the defender and the extreme part of the attacker with which they can score.
The decision has a “tolerance” level in favor of the attacker if the lines touch, which offers an attacker the benefit of the doubt.
In that instance, a green line would be indicated, but the lines were not in contact in this case involving Wright and Wan-Bissaka, meaning an offside decision could be tagged as the right one.
Manchester United and Coventry City showdown in the FA Cup
Manchester United had been leading the encounter 3-0 before the 71st minute, courtesy of goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire, and Bruno Fernandes.
However, the game became intriguing for neutrals at the dying embers, as Ellis Simms struck the ball home from inside the box to reduce the deficit for Coventry City.
Subsequently, Callum O’Hare smashed a shot from outside the area which deflected off the body of Wan-Bissaka and into the net.
That goal made the game more competitive, with Manchester United fans having their hearts in their mouths.
In the 5th minute of additional time in the second period, Wan-Bissaka was deemed to have handled the ball in the box and a penalty was handed afterward to Coventry City.
Haji Wright stepped up and played the spot kick, converting calmly from the spot to force the game into extra-time.
Both teams had several opportunities to go ahead in extra time before Torp’s goal was disallowed, however, the game wore on into penalties.
Manchester United missed their first spot-kick in the FA Cup semi-final and it was looking like an apocalypse on their path, with Coventry City scoring next up through Haji Wright.
Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, and Rasmus Hojlund all scored for the Red Devils, and it was helpful to see them through to the final, after Callum O’Hare and captain Ben Sheaf had missed from the spot, with Victor Torp netting the other goal for Coventry City in the shootout.
It ended 4-2 on penalties in favor of Manchester United, with Erik Ten Hag opting to see the bright side of things despite his side capitulating in the culminating minutes of normal time.
Erik Ten Hag’s thoughts over the encounter
Speaking in a presser following the game, Ten Hag said:
“We have reached two finals in two years and that is a huge achievement. I see the mistakes we make. You can’t avoid them. But it’s not an embarrassment, it’s a huge achievement.
“We can play at very high levels but in same match, we can go to very low levels and it’s not explainable. It’s about game management, responsibility, and decision-making.”
The Dutchman added that his side lacked “discipline” in the closing stages of the game, and they might not classify the season as a successful one, even if they win the FA Cup.
He said: “We can’t say this group doesn’t have the right mentality because they showed character today, but in the final part there was a lack of discipline. This season has had many ups but also many downs.
“Winning the FA Cup doesn’t make the season successful. We want to win more. I have mixed feelings and there are mixed feelings in the dressing room.”
Manchester United face Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25, 2024, a repeat of the previous season’s final, and it is the first time the same two teams have contested successive FA Cup finals since 1885.
The Cityzens had to dispatch Chelsea 1-0 in their semi-final fixture, courtesy of a well-taken goal by Bernardo Silva.
