Wolves v Aston Villa: Ex-FIFA official blasts VAR after Malen controversy
Donyell Malen’s goal for Aston Villa against Wolves was wrongly ruled out by VAR, says Mark Halsey.
The video assistant referee adjudged Morgan Rogers to be interfering with play from an offside position before the Netherlands international netted his first Villa goal.
This decision didn’t go down well with the travelling supporters who have an ally in former FIFA official Halsey.
Writing for the Sun on Sunday (2 February, page five of pull-out), he said: “It was the wrong decision.
“Being in an offside position is not an offence in itself, it is a question of whether Villa’s Morgan Rogers was interfering with play or impacting on an opponent trying to play the ball.
“Rogers was not attempting to play the ball himself and had no impact on Wolves defender Nelson Semedo in the free-kick move that saw new signing Donyell Malen put the ball in the net.
“Referee Andy Madley should have been afforded the opportunity by VAR Matt Honohue to go over to the monitor as this was a subjective call. Had he done so, I believe a goal would have been awarded.”
Mark Halsey disagrees with VAR after Aston Villa decision v Wolves
The Villa faithful were left baffled by the decision on the night, especially considering the England international hadn’t touched the ball.
Semedo was facing the wrong direction as John McGinn received the ball before feeding Malen to open his account in claret and blue.
It says it all that the Portugal international didn’t once complain about Rogers after the ball hit the net.
Regardless, VAR decided that the attacking midfielder was in the wrong in a decision which has been viewed as controversial, even among former FIFA officials.
In other Aston Villa news, Marcus Rashford has said goodbye to his Manchester United teammates after the latest transfer news.
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