Kelechi Iheanacho makes history with first Video Assistant Referee goal in FA Cup tie
Written by News on 17/01/2018
Kelechi Iheanacho has assured himself of a place in English football history after becoming the first player to score via a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision.
The Leicester City striker’s second goal in his team’s 2-0 FA Cup victory over Fleetwood Town was initially disallowed for offside.
But referee Jonathan Moss asked to consult with the VAR and replays showed Iheanacho was onside when the ball was played forward by teammate Riyad Mahrez.
After a delay of just over a minute Moss gave the goal, ensuring the Nigerian international of a place in pub quizzes for years to come.
The VAR can be used by referees to help them officiate key moments, such as the awarding of goals, penalties, red cards and for cases of mistaken identity.
The video referee – who is intended to eradicate clear and obvious errors – automatically checks every relevant incident and tells the referee if necessary.
They then have the power to change the original decision based on new information provided by the VAR or they can watch a replay on a screen at the side of the pitch.
Speaking about the goal post-match, Iheanacho told BT Sport: “I didn’t know if I was onside or offside but I agree totally now that I was onside.
“I was concentrating on the goal, I didn’t think if I was onside or offside but Riyad (Mahrez) told me that I was onside.
“We just waited to see what the decision was.”
Leicester boss Claude Puel said the situation showed video technology was “important”.
“It was a good thing for us,” he said.
“The video is not perfect because we should have had free-kicks for fouls on (Vicente) Iborra but for the goal it was good.”
Fleetwood boss Uwe Rosler was decidedly more ambivalent.
He said: “For me, can they really say he is onside for the second goal or are they guessing?
“VAR is not 100% clear because we still don’t see everything.”
(c) Sky News 2018: Kelechi Iheanacho makes history with first Video Assistant Referee goal in FA Cup tie
