Former Premier League referee Chris Foy has explained why Georginio Rutter saw a goal ruled out in Leeds United’s win over Bristol City on Saturday
Foy was reviewing some of the EFL’s biggest refereeing decisions from the weekend on Sky Sports, with Rutter’s second-half strike among those discussed.
From a corner, Sam Byram saw a volley on goal saved by ‘keeper Max O’Leary straight into the path of Rutter inside the six-yard box.
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Rutter was just about able to stab the ball home before the linesman’s offside flag cut short his celebrations, for a goal that would’ve marked another top display.
Having missed a huge chance in the first half, Rutter was clearly determined to get on the scoresheet for the first time at Elland Road, but unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.
Speaking on Sky Sports, former referee Foy claims Rutter committed two offences in the disallowed goal’s sequence, first being in the eyeline of the ‘keeper, and then getting involved with play on the rebound having been stood in an offside position from Byram’s shot.
He said: “Making a decision in a crowded penalty area is always challenging for the officials. When the ball is volleyed towards goal by Sam Byram (25) the eventual goal scorer, Georginio (24) is stood just beyond the second-last opponent – so in an offside position.
“Although he doesn’t touch Byram’s initial shot, he makes a clear attempt to play the ball, and clearly impacts the ability of Bristol City’s goalkeeper to play the ball, who delays his save and spills Byram’s effort, before Georginio taps the loose ball into the net.
“There are two offside offences here, the first is Georginio’s initial action that clearly impacts the Bristol City goalkeeper’s attempt to make the save, and the second is that following a save he gains an advantage for the resultant tap-in by initially being in an offside position. This is a good call by the officials.
Having seen the replay back from the available angles, it is impossible to know whether Rutter was offside given how tight the decision was.
What is for sure, is that if there was VAR, several lines would’ve no doubt been drawn to reach a decision, but in the Championship, the officials only have a split second.
It is frustrating to know a decision so tight cost Rutter his first home goal for Leeds, but thankfully it didn’t cost Daniel Farke’s side three points.
