The Premier League VAR has issued its final decision on the cancelled goal by Manchester United. The goal scored by Zirkzee against Brighton, which was previously disallowed by VAR, has now been reviewed by higher authorities. Points will be shared between the two teams, and PGMOL will be apologizing to Manchester United’s management.

Alejandro Garnacho’s goal against Brighton was controversially disallowed, leaving Manchester United players and fans confused. With just 20 minutes left at the Amex Stadium, an unexpected offside call involving Joshua Zirkzee nullified Garnacho’s seemingly easy finish. Bruno Fernandes had delivered a precise pass to Garnacho, who was poised to score, but Zirkzee, attempting to recover from missing Fernandes’ pass, unintentionally deflected the ball with his knee. This accidental touch, while Zirkzee was ahead of Garnacho, led to the goal being disallowed for offside.
United players were shocked by the decision, as Zirkzee’s touch was unintentional and didn’t aid the attacking team. Had Zirkzee not made contact with the ball, Garnacho’s goal would have been valid, highlighting how small details can significantly impact the outcome of a game.

After Garnacho celebrated what he thought was a crucial goal, he was soon met with visible frustration and confusion from Zirkzee. This reaction was in stark contrast to Garnacho’s initial joy, especially given Zirkzee’s previous match-winning performance against Fulham.

The decision quickly sparked debate on social media, with fans split over the offside rule. Many sympathized with Zirkzee, arguing that his reaction was instinctive and not his fault. One fan commented, “Joshua Zirkzee’s reaction was purely instinctive. It’s unfortunate, but he shouldn’t be blamed.” Another added, “Garnacho was unlucky, but Zirkzee’s touch was unintentional.”

The controversy also brought up past VAR disputes, with one fan humorously calling for “Justice for Coventry” in reference to a previous FA Cup semi-final incident.

There were suggestions to reconsider the offside rule to account for the effects of accidental touches, advocating for common sense when such actions don’t impact the play’s outcome. One fan remarked, “While the decision was technically correct, common sense should have taken precedence. The ball was heading in, and no defender or goalkeeper could have changed that.”

As the match progressed, Brighton took advantage, with Joao Pedro scoring a dramatic winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time. This gave Brighton a 1-0 victory and dealt Manchester United a tough defeat.

After the match, Zirkzee was observed talking with United manager Erik ten Hag about the situation, contemplating the fine margins in football. This discussion also triggered a wider conversation about possible changes to the offside rule to better handle cases involving accidental touches.Jadon Sancho’s future at Manchester United remains uncertain as the transfer deadline approaches. Despite a difficult season and a public fallout with Erik ten Hag, Sancho has been re-integrated into the squad this summer. However, with intense competition for places and Sancho being a valuable asset, the club is open to his departure.

Interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Borussia Dortmund has emerged, particularly since Sancho’s successful loan spell at Dortmund. Manchester United is reportedly seeking around £40 million for the winger, and they are inclined to hold out for this amount rather than agreeing to a loan deal without a strong buy-option.

Erik ten Hag seems to have mended relations with Sancho, but retaining him could be advantageous if he can regain the form he showed at Dortmund. Keeping Sancho could also provide valuable depth in the squad, especially given the injury concerns affecting other attackers like Antony and Rasmus Hojlund.