Match of the Day host Gary Lineker makes no secret of his love of Leicester City and he was as frustrated as every Foxes fan as the club gave up a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The draw at Selhurst Park means that Steve Cooper is still seeking his first Premier League win as Leicester City manager, but they came agonisingly close against Crystal Palace.
Jamie Vardy put Leicester ahead in the 21st-minute before Stephy Mavididi doubled the lead on his first Premier League start just after half-time.
The lead was halved a minute later as Jean-Philippe Mateta struck, before the French striker converted a penalty conceded by Conor Coady in the 92nd-minute to share the points.
- READ MORE: Steve Cooper must reflect on one key mistake that cost Leicester City after draw vs Crystal Palace
Gary Lineker unhappy with VAR after Leicester City vs Crystal Palace
Mateta’s first goal on the day looked offside and there was a lengthy delay as supporters of both sides held their breaths.
Eventually, VAR ruled that the Palace striker was marginally onside, but Gary Lineker was left bemused by the decision.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast that he hosts alongside Micah Richards and Alan Shearer, Lineker spoke on the incident that left him fuming, saying: “They [Palace] had a goal that was originally ruled out for offside and then VAR decided it wasn’t.
“I don’t know how they did that, but anyway…and then you just kind of thought ‘they’re going to equalise’, and they did. And Conor Coady – he’ll know himself – he just got caught out.”
Richards added: “Did you see him with his head in his hands? I felt for him. You know when you’ve made it and you’re just hoping it’s offside or the player has dived or something, but he just knew.”
Lineker responded: “As soon as it happened i just went: ‘Oh no, oh no’.”
To which Shearer, who was on Match of the Day with Lineker on Saturday night, said: “Yeah it was a tough watch for him.”
Later in the episode, Shearer returned to the incident, adding: “Micah, you should’ve heard him raging yesterday. When the lines were being drawn across for that offside to make it 2-1. There was steam coming out of those ears.
“Honestly, you should’ve seen it. He was getting so angry, so animated.”
Lineker welcomes semi-automated offsides after Leicester City controversy
It is understandable that Lineker and other fans are unconvinced by VAR’s ability to correctly determine offside calls in its current form.
- READ MORE: Steve Cooper explains his controversial Leicester City decision during draw to Crystal Palace
However, semi-automated offsides are set to be introduced shortly in the Premier League after success in the Champions League and Euro 2024.
Shearer alluded to this when discussing Palace’s first goal on Saturday, saying: “Semi-automated is on its way, its on its way.”
Lineker confirmed that he thinks this is the right move, responding: “I think it’ll be a good thing, because I think then you’ll just get it and be told and we can trust it.
“But, at the moment, the angle they had as well was so unclear. I mean, when you looked at it you just went ‘well it’s offside, it’s obviously offside-“
Richards agreed, as he added: “It looked miles offside.”
Whether Mateta was onside or not it is incredibly disappointing that Leicester squandered a healthy lead to draw with Palace.