Lineker slams VAR over disallowed Osimhen goal in UCL

Former England captain and broadcaster Gary Lineker has publicly condemned the VAR decision to disallow Victor Osimhen’s goal in Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16 victory over Liverpool, calling the ruling absurd after reviewing the incident repeatedly.

The match, played in Istanbul, saw Galatasaray secure a 1-0 first-leg advantage courtesy of Mario Lemina’s goal. However, a pivotal moment occurred in the second half when Osimhen appeared to double the Turkish side’s lead. The Nigerian striker capitalised on a defensive error from Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté, quickly slotting home from a deflected cross. The home crowd celebrated what seemed a decisive score, only for the celebration to be cut short by a VAR intervention.

After a prolonged review, the goal was chalked off. The match officials determined that Galatasaray winger Barış Alper Yılmaz, who was in an offside position in the build-up, had actively interfered with play by obstructing the line of sight of Liverpool defenders, thereby creating the chaos that led to the goal.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker did not mince words. “I have watched it 50 times, and it is absurd,” he stated. “There is no impact [from Yilmaz]. It is just a terrible, terrible decision, and VAR just waved it on.” His comments highlight the ongoing contention surrounding the interpretation of ‘active interference’ from an offside position, a frequently debated aspect of the Video Assistant Referee protocol.

The disallowed goal proved crucial, as the final score remained 1-0. The decision has intensified scrutiny on VAR applications in high-stakes matches, particularly within the Champions League knockout stages. With the second leg scheduled at Anfield, Liverpool must overcome a deficit without the benefit of away goals, while Galatasaray will seek to protect their narrow lead. The incident ensures that the implementation of the offside law by VAR will remain a focal point of discussion ahead of the tie’s conclusion.