UCL: ‘It’s absurd’ – Gary Lineker slams VAR decision over disallowed Osimhen goal
Gary Lineker Criticizes Disallowed Goal in UEFA Champions League Match
Former England international Gary Lineker has expressed strong disapproval of the disallowed goal scored by Victor Osimhen during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match between Galatasaray and Liverpool earlier this week.
In a tightly contested matchup, Galatasaray secured a 1-0 victory over Liverpool, with Mario Lemina scoring the decisive goal in Istanbul. However, the match was marred by a controversial VAR decision regarding Osimhen’s goal.
Osimhen appeared to have extended Galatasaray’s lead after capitalizing on a mistake by Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté. He quickly reacted to a deflected cross and found the net, prompting jubilant celebrations among the home crowd. The joy was short-lived, however, as VAR intervened to overturn the goal.
According to the officials, Barış Alper Yılmaz, a winger for Galatasaray, was in an offside position during the buildup and was deemed to have interfered with play by obstructing the Liverpool defense’s line of sight. This ruling effectively nullified Osimhen’s effort.
Lineker criticized the decision during an appearance on “The Rest Is Football” podcast, stating, “I have watched it 50 times, and it is absurd. There is no impact from Yilmaz. It is just a terrible, terrible decision, and VAR just waved it on.”
