Leicester City fans were left fuming over the linesman’s failure to rule out Harry Maguire’s last-gasp winner to hand Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men a defeat.
Leicester City came into their FA Cup tie against Manchester United as underdogs. Ruud van Nistelrooy was visiting Old Trafford for the first time since leaving the club.
But the visitors were sent into dreamland when Bobby De Cordova Reid opened the scoring in the first half, handing them hopes of advancing into the fifth round.
In truth, it was a largely comfortable first half for the Foxes as United barely laid a glove on Mads Hermansen’s goal.
Even in the second half, Van Nistelrooy’s men weren’t under much threat for most of it. That soon changed when Joshua Zirkzee equalised in the 68th minute.
It was backs to the walls for Leicester after this as Man United went in search of a winner, finding it in controversial style through former star Harry Maguire.
Leicester City fans fume over Harry Maguire’s winner in the FA Cup
Maguire nodded home United’s winner in the 93rd minute, getting on the end of Bruno Fernandes’ looping cross.
However, the whole of the footballing world was left in disbelief as Maguire was clearly in an offside position when the ball was planted onto his head.
With VAR not introduced into the FA Cup till the fifth round, the referee didn’t have the benefit of those at Stockley Park looking at the replays and instead had to rely on the linesman’s real-time decision.
Of course, he got it horribly wrong, costing the Foxes a chance of progression in the competition and leaving thousands of supporters seething.
“It’s genuinely a mockery now, was never a free kick in the first place even with the commentator saying the referee was ‘influenced’ by the crowd. Just for Maguire to be this far offside for his goal,” one fan wrote.
“Cheated. Some decent performances today as well but what can you do when the officials decide to screw you in the last minute,” another replied.
“Robbed. Not a free kick and then offside,” a third commented.
“Terrible officiating again. Clearly offside,” one supporter said while a sixth questioned: “What is the point of having linemen if they can’t even spot 5 yards offside?”
“He’s offside and it’s not even a handball. Classic united,” a seventh wrote.
Leicester so hard done by vs Man Utd
Regardless of whether Man United were off the pace for most of it, the visitors can be pleased with their spirited display despite the loss.
The return of Wilfred Ndidi was instrumental to Leicester controlling the opening stages of the game while Bilal El Khannouss was brilliant in attack.
It’s just so unfortunate that all their hard work was done by a decision out of their control and a wrong one at that.