A contentious decision in the FA Cup has left former Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy fuming, as he claimed Leicester’s exit was decided not in “Fergie time” but in “offside time.” The drama unfolded when Harry Maguire’s 93rd-minute winner for Manchester United was ruled legal, despite replays clearly indicating an offside infringement. With the competition lacking a VAR system until the next round, the controversial goal stood, sparking outrage among Leicester supporters and former players alike.
“We are not defeated in Fergie time; we are defeated in offside time,” Van Nistelrooy declared, invoking memories of the extra minutes often associated with Sir Alex Ferguson’s era at Old Trafford. He argued that the decision was not a matter of mere millimetres—“it is half a metre, it is clear”—and lamented that his team did not deserve to lose a match on what he described as a blatant mistake.
When asked if VAR should be implemented from the third round onward, Van Nistelrooy curtly responded, “Let me think about that question,” leaving no doubt about his frustration with the current system.
Meanwhile, Ruben Amorim, who now leads Manchester United, expressed his disappointment with the team’s overall performance. After Joshua Zirkzee’s 67th-minute equaliser erased an earlier goal by Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Amorim conceded that the side was fortunate to advance on Maguire’s winner, though he insisted that victory should be based on quality play rather than luck.
“I think we need a lot of things, nothing to do with luck—it has to do with the quality of the work. We need to improve every detail of the game, the energy, the way we play with and without the ball,” Amorim said.
Reflecting on the match, Amorim added,
“We didn’t have any energy in the beginning, especially in the first half. Then in the second half, we played with a bit more speed and managed to win second balls. Ultimately, we managed to turn things around so that the result was good, but our performance was not.”
Van Nistelrooy and Amorim’s comments underscore the deep-rooted frustrations that can arise from officiating decisions and tactical shortcomings. For Leicester fans, the offside call remains a bitter pill to swallow, while for Manchester United, it is a reminder that even a hard-fought victory can be marred by controversy.
As Manchester United continue their FA Cup campaign, the debate over the use of VAR and the accuracy of offside decisions is likely to persist, with former legends like Van Nistelrooy calling for a fairer system that truly reflects the game on the pitch.
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