Wayne Rooney shows true colours with Liverpool VAR admission vs Manchester City

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Wayne Rooney expressed candid views on the controversial VAR decision during Liverpool's 3-0 loss to Manchester City, specifically regarding the disallowed goal by Virgil van Dijk. Rooney argued that Van Dijk's goal should have stood, stating that although Andrew Robertson was in an offside position during the play, he did not obstruct or affect City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's view or ability to save the header.

In his analysis on BBC's Match of the Day, Rooney emphasized the quality of Van Dijk’s movement and header and highlighted that Donnarumma was fully aware of the ball's trajectory. He noted Donnarumma’s dive was already in motion and that Robertson’s position did not influence the goalkeeper's effort to save the ball. Rooney rejected the VAR rationale that Robertson was making an obvious action impacting Donnarumma, clarifying that the goalkeeper had a clear line of sight and sufficient time to react, rendering the offside call unnecessary.

Rooney criticized the VAR ruling, arguing it misjudged the situation by focusing on Robertson’s position rather than the actual effect on the goalkeeper’s ability to make the save. He underlined that Donnarumma’s positioning and movement suggested no interference and insisted that Van Dijk's goal was well-executed and should have counted.

This admission from Rooney offers a striking perspective given his former status as a Manchester United icon and previous skepticism towards certain VAR decisions affecting City and Liverpool matches. His statement reinforces ongoing debates about VAR’s interpretation and application, especially concerning offside decisions linked to goalkeeper interference, underscoring the complexities and controversies that technology introduces in modern football officiating.