Sir Keir Starmer called for reform of the offside law following the Denial of dramatic Coventry City winner against Manchester United on Sunday.
The Labor leader said the laws governing impediment should be changed to “make it more beneficial to the attacking team”.
Coventry had recovered from 3-0 down in FA Cup semi-final on Sunday against Unitedand then scored what looked like the winner in the 121st minute at the end of extra time.
A VAR review showed that Coventry’s Haji Wright was marginally offside before crossing for Victor Torp to score. Mark Robins, the Coventry manager, said Wright was “an offside” and the decision was “ridiculous”.
Sir Keir, speaking to Metro, has now joined the debate. “This is a classic cup, come back from 3-0 down, 3-3, you are Coventry,” he said. “This is a giant slaughter.
“It’s a very well-worked goal, and it’s ruled out because there’s what, a nail’s difference between the attacker and the defender? Don’t tell me that a nail gives you an advantage in football.
“I would change the offside rule. I wouldn’t change VAR. I would change the offside rule to make it more beneficial for the attacking team.”
Sir Keir was joined by former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown, who was quick to disagree with the Labor leader.
“It’s the only area we can get right,” Keown said. “It’s objective, not subjective. He’s definitely off. If it’s off, it’s off. He’s unlucky, but we all have to try to accept that.
“As an analyst now, we have to be very careful. We need to respect the decision. OK, authorities sometimes make mistakes… but these are teething problems.
“We’re in the early years and we hope it gets a lot better from now on.”
