Gary Lineker Slams VAR Decision That Disallowed Victor Osimhen’s Goal Against Liverpool

Former England international Gary Lineker has criticised the controversial VAR decision that ruled out a goal scored by Victor Osimhen during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg clash between Galatasaray S.K. and Liverpool F.C..

Galatasaray secured a 1–0 victory in the encounter at the RAMS Park, with midfielder Mario Lemina scoring the decisive goal in the first half.

However, the match was overshadowed by a contentious VAR call involving Osimhen. The Nigerian striker appeared to have doubled Galatasaray’s lead after capitalizing on an error by Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté.

Osimhen reacted quickly to a deflected cross and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper, sparking celebrations across the stadium. But the celebrations were cut short when the Video Assistant Referee intervened and ruled the goal out.

Officials determined that Galatasaray winger Barış Alper Yılmaz was in an offside position during the build-up and was considered to have interfered with play by obstructing Liverpool’s defensive line.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Lineker strongly disagreed with the decision.

“I have watched it 50 times, and it is absurd,” Lineker said.

“There is no impact [from Yilmaz]. It is just a terrible, terrible decision, and VAR just waved it on.”

Opinion: VAR Still Struggling With Consistency

The incident once again highlights one of the biggest criticisms of VAR in modern football—inconsistency in interpretation.

While the technology was introduced to reduce human error, controversial decisions like this continue to spark debate among players, analysts, and fans. In situations where interference is subjective, different officials may interpret the same moment differently.

For Osimhen and Galatasaray supporters, the disallowed goal may feel like a harsh call, especially given how clear the striker’s finish was. On the other hand, referees are tasked with applying the rules as strictly as possible.

Ultimately, the debate surrounding this moment shows that VAR, while useful, is far from perfect. Until football finds a clearer and more consistent way to interpret such incidents, controversies like this will likely remain part of the game. ⚽