Fulham furious as Man City goal allowed to stand despite ex-ref Mike Dean raging ‘it can’t stand’ and Haaland AGREES
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FULHAM furiously slammed VAR after Nathan Ake's controversial goal was allowed to stand in their defeat to Man City.
Ex-referee Mike Dean raged it simply "has to be disallowed" - and even Erling Haaland agreed.
Manchester City defender Ake - completely unmarked - headed in from a corner on the stroke of half-time in their Premier League clash at the Etihad to make the score 2-1.
And the ball bounced beyond Bernd Leno into the bottom corner of the Fulham goal, restoring City's lead after Tim Ream cancelled out Julian Alvarez's opener.
But the Fulham goalkeeper, defenders and coaching staff all reacted angrily when the goal was allowed to stand.
That is because they were adamant Manuel Akanji was interfering with play as he stood in an offside position.
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VAR looked at lots of replays and deemed that the fellow defender did not touch it or impact play.
That is despite Akanji moving towards the ball and missing it with his boot - as Leno waited to dive until after the ball had gone past the Swiss ace.
Therefore, by the letter of the law, Akanji was committing an offside offence by challenging for the ball and attempting to play it.
But VAR Tony Harrington did not instruct referee Michael Oliver to take a look at the replay and the goal was given, prompting further fury from Marco Silva and his team as the gaffer risked yet another yellow card.
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Ex-Premier League ref Mike Dean let rip at his former colleagues in the Sky Sports studio.
He said: "In my opinion, no, it just can't stand.
"He's jumped over the ball, he has to be interfering.
"The player is there and Leno has hesitated. It just has to be disallowed."
Even more incredibly, Haaland, who scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 win, agreed.
He said after the match: "I think it was offside as well, I feel bad for them (Fulham). I would be fuming if I was them."
And fans on Twitter also piled in on the "shocking" refereeing by the VAR.
One said: "Pointless having VAR if they're allowing goals like that. This is pure cheating."
Another wrote: "Fulham robbed. That should be given offside. Akanji obstructs Leno's view clearly."
A third added: "Akanji in an offside position and blocking Leno’s view, yet Ale’s goal is still given. What a disgrace. VAR is a joke."
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A fourth fumed: "Akanji clearly interfering with the ball and Man City have been given the goal. The league is fixed 100 per cent shocking officiating yet again."
And a final user commented: "How on earth is that goal given? Akanji is definitely interfering. Leno can't dive until the ball goes past him! Utter nonsense."
