Sports
VAR successfully used for first time ever in English football to award a goal with Kelechi Iheanacho strike overturned
Kelechi Iheanacho made English football history tonight after becoming the first player to have a goal awarded by VAR technology.
Leicester’s two goal hero Iheanacho initially had his second ruled out by an offside flag only for the video assistant referee to over rule the decision and the 77th minute goal stood.
It will surely push football into a new era after VAR showed that linesman Lee Betts got it wrong but referee Jon Moss was still able to get it right thanks to modern technology.
Iheanacho even admitted afterwards that he was not sure whether he was onside from Riyad Mahrez’s through ball but was grateful for the decision.
Former Manchester City striker Iheanacho said: “I didn’t know if I’m onside or offside but I think Riyad told me that I was onside, so what I was concentrated on the goal. We just wait if there is a review, we just wait to see what the referee’s decision is.”
The whole of the stadium was kept on tenterhooks as it was clear the referee had radioed back to base for help and the celebrations then started over a minute – 69 seconds to be precise – after the ball hit the net.
That was the strangest part of the whole process and yet Leicester boss Claude Puel said he is now a big fan of VAR technology after the latest trial run proved to be a big success.
Puel said: “I think it’s perfect. Of course it was a good thing, good goal and for us it’s a good thing. I think it was not long, there was no time between the goal and the decision.”
But Fleetwood’s German boss Use Rosler, whose side did themselves proud again after taking Leicester to a replay, said: “I followed it in Germany, there’s not a lot of positivity about it.
“For me, you have the referees and when you see it today can you really say he was definitely onside or were they guessing. It’s not really clear even with VAR.
“Don’t complicate football too much. The game is beautiful already. Even with VAR, you can’t be completely sure of the decision.”
Iheanacho’s historic second goal made sure he was the story of the night when it was supposed to be about Jamie Vardy facing the club where he really made his name on his rags-to-riches fairytale from non-league to England striker.
Vardy missed the first game at Fleetwood through injury and only came on as a late substitute in the return by which time Iheanacho had already won it with his brace.
Iheanacho got his first with a well-taken finish in the 43rd minute and his second came after he latched onto Mahrez’s through ball, the flag went up but VAR showed that Fleetwood defender Nathan Pond’s outstretched leg played him onside.
