Clearly was, but the offsides goal disallowed was razor close....VAR something something....
You get you give sometimes....
Per the round table discussion this morning pre-game, it seems to be a contested subject. They say clubs will consider that a no-goal but by the rule an unintentional hand ball like that is still legal. I guess his arm position being there to break his fall and not in an unnatural position made it unintentional and therefore legal.
Seems odd. Ball going wide is knocked in by a player diving for a header of his own free will, and because of his action the ball goes in. Good goal. Doesn't sit right.
From a pure rules standpoint then, why ever play a wide ball up high when you have so many striking possibilities down low (feet, diving header, incidental hand and arm contact)? A high ball is only played by the head (excepting the rare bicycle) and requires the arms stay down. You also become vulnerable to the goalie stepping out and punching it or catching it, and defenders holding you down.
I don't know if teams would think this way and start throwing 3-4 players into diving headers hoping for a hand deflection when so much SKILL is also available, but it's there.
