Fury after Manchester City offside goal gets manager red card

The football world is up in arms after a staggering loophole exposed a rule that should have been killed a long time ago.

Rodri came from a long way behind the play to affect the lead-up to City's goal.

A controversial late winner has overshadowed Manchester City’s return to the top of the Premier League table after a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

City exposed a broken offside rule technicality that left Villa boss Dean Smith spitting chips in a tirade that earned him a red card on the sideline.

The controversial goal has caused a furious reaction from across the football world.

Bernardo Silva ended the 0-0 deadlock in the 79th minute with a screamer from outside the box — but it came on the back of a controversial ruling.

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Silva headed the ball back towards the Villa goal after a long clearance, but could only find Villa defender Tyrone Mings.

Mings was caught by surprise and dispossessed when City’s Rodri came from a position well behind the last defender to pick his pocket.

"Aston Villa have become a victim of IFAB, not the referee or VAR." 🗣

Onside or offside: The ruling that's divided opinion.

The full analysis from THAT decision in Manchester City's win over Aston Villa.#OptusSport pic.twitter.com/JU6gY9fNqy

— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) January 21, 2021

Rodri then fed Silva to leave him one-on-one with the keeper.

Villa players immediately protested — and Smith was instantly furious at the ruling. When the offside ruling was not even reviewed by the VAR, Smith blew a gasket.

Dean Smith, was sent to the stands.

He was sent off for his protest.

“It’s farcical. He was 10 yards offside and came back and tackled our player, it’s a pathetic law and a pathetic decision,” Smith told BT Sport.

He went on to tell the BBC: “I’ve not seen a goal like that given. It needs to be looked at. I don’t think anyone in this stadium thought it was a goal.

“I thought they would go over to the VAR screen. I saw the incident and saw it was kicking off, so I asked the fourth officials did they get juggling balls for Christmas?

“If that is the law, then definitely [it’s a problem]. You can’t just have people standing offside and taking advantage of an unfair position.”

The loudest complaints from football pundits were directed at the rule itself — with the goal technically legitimate under the laws of the game.

City got the job done.

With Mings making a deliberate play on the ball, the goal stands because his action played Rodri onside.

Premier League legend Michael Owen said the rule needs to be changed.

“I hear what you’re saying, and if this is the rule, then this is the rule. Who am I to argue? But I’m telling you, this rule will be changed as soon as anybody who is worth any salt sees that happen — that rule will be changed at the next meeting,” Owen said.

“Football cannot have that type of decision. It will be changed. It’s a watershed moment in football.

“That is a loophole that needs to be closed off quickly, because that cannot happen. That is going to have, or could have, the most unbelievable consequences in this title race that we’ve seen in a long, long time.”

Originally published as Fury after Manchester City offside goal gets manager red card