'ABSOLUTELY BLIND'
Bournemouth fans furious after Mo Salah’s ‘offside’ goal… and even he doesn’t look happy about it
The Egpytian forward didn't think the goal would stand and barely celebrated in bizarre scene
FANS are raging after Mo Salah scored an offside goal... and the Egpytian himself looked pretty confused that it was given.
A long-range effort from Roberto Firmino was palmed back into the danger zone by Asmir Begovic, with Salah steaming in to slot home his seventh of the season.
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But replays showed the Egpytian, who would complete a hat-trick in the second-half, was clearly offside.
Speaking at half-time on Sky Sports, former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp said it was a poor mistake by the assistant referee.
He said: "You can see Salah is in an offside position and the linesman should see that.
"The ball definitely moves. It swerves around the defender, but he was in an offside position."
What is offside?
A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched* by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by:
- interfering with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a team-mate or
- interfering with an opponent by:
- preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or
challenging an opponent for the ball or - clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent or
- making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball
*The first point of contact of the 'play' or 'touch' of the ball should be used
or
- gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when it has:
- rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar or an opponent
- been deliberately saved by any opponent
- A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save by any opponent) is not considered to have gained an advantage.
A ‘save’ is when a player stops, or attempts to stop, a ball which is going into or very close to the goal with any part of the body except the hands/arms (unless the goalkeeper within the penalty area).
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Salah also offered a muted celebration, seemingly unsure if the linesman was going to give it or not.
He barely raised a smile - and definitely looked displeased when Firmino started to slap his face.
Fans on social media were very unhappy the goal was given.
One user, FergieTime, wrote: "Salah offside goal, linesman absolutely blind, But Klopp will celebrate like it’s 1999, hugs all around. VAR couldn’t come soon enough."
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Rob Cook added: "Salah offside. Goal counts. Shock."
El Diablo said: "That linesman had a PERFECT view of Salah being offside. Either corrupt or inept. Or maybe both.
"But something needs to be done. I’m not a massive advocate for VAR but it’s times like this that it’s sorely needed."
The offside rules would appear to show that Salah was offside (in bold) - but some claimed Salah was not interfering with play when the ball was shot and was therefore not offside.
Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool: Mo Salah grabs a hat-trick in comfortable afternoon for the Reds
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Michael Adams wrote: "Salah not offside... second phase. As soon as it comes off Begovic, he's in an onside position."
Aidzini added: "The goal is not offside!
"The ball is going towards the keeper and Salah nowhere near the ball until rebound.."
Steve Cook would later score an own goal for Bournemouth, before Salah raced through for his hat-trick.
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