“This is so unacceptable 😕, we have to take this issue to the FA” — RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose expresses dissatisfaction with the recent choice made concerning RB Leipzig after Benjamin Sesko goal was Disallowed

This week marked the Champions League’s inaugural return in 2024. At the Round of 16, Real Madrid, the Spanish powerhouse, faced RB Leipzig.

Madrid appeared to be behind the game after two minutes and was under immediate pressure. Before goalie Andriy Lunin punched it to the edge of the box, a corner was swung in. Xaver Schlager then sent it on a volley towards goal.

After the ball rebounded off the ground, Benjamin Sesko was the first to react, nodding the ball into the net’s back. The flag was raised before he could even celebrate. The on-field judgement was affirmed, and it was the fastest of the VAR inspections. Replays, though, appeared to demonstrate that Rodrigo of Real Madrid was unmistakably playing Sesko onside.

The justification
A Leipzig player offside disrupting the game
Things might appear a little odd because the choice was taken so swiftly. However, this is only because Champions League games employ partially automatic offside equipment. This implies that, unlike in the Premier League, lines don’t need to be drawn by people.

So why, even though Sesko was onside, did VAR not award the goal? The Leipzig player behind Lunin, who is undoubtedly offside, was judged to be interfering with play, which is the only plausible explanation. A player who commits “an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball” is guilty of an offside offence, according to Law 11.2 of the game’s regulations.

Nevertheless, it appeared to be a very severe call from the referee, and the replays showed that Lunin most likely would not have made the save had he not been touched by an offside player. The CBS Sports pundits were still utterly perplexed by the officiating call as the half wore on and further replays were displayed on the television.

Richard Keys, a pundit for beIN Sports, expressed his opinion that the goal should not have stood, saying, “There is nothing wrong with that goal other than the fact that it’s against Real Madrid.”

Sesko and his colleagues were still giving the Madrid defence problems, but they were unable to capitalise on their opportunities to score first. This made the situation worse. As a result, both sides entered the half with a 0-0 score.