Monday 4 May 2026 — Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher reviews Benjamin Sesko’s goal for Manchester United against Liverpool and other key incidents from the match.
Sesko’s goal
Gallagher examines the build-up to Sesko’s finish and the decision to award the goal. Key points he highlights:
– Offside line: Gallagher explains how the assistant referee and VAR determine lines and why marginal calls rely on frame-by-frame review. He notes that if the attacker is level with the last defender at the moment the ball is played, the goal stands.
– Potential fouls in the build-up: Gallagher stresses that contact must be significant and impede a defender to overturn a goal. He outlines the difference between incidental contact and a foul that affects the outcome.
– Goalkeeper interference: If a goalkeeper is impeded or obstructed, that can lead to a disallowed goal. Gallagher clarifies the criteria for goalkeeper protection and how VAR assesses incidents in the penalty area.
– VAR threshold: Gallagher reiterates the “clear and obvious error” standard that VAR uses. If the on-field officials’ decision falls within plausible interpretations of the play, VAR will typically not intervene.
Other incidents analysed
– Penalty appeals: Gallagher identifies common errors referees make when assessing contact inside the box, including over-reliance on body language and not waiting for the full sequence of play. He explains when simulation should be punished versus when contact is genuine.
– Handball decisions: He outlines the current handball framework — deliberate handling, making the body unnaturally bigger, and the ball striking the arm from close range — and why these situations still cause debate.
– Fouls and bookings: Gallagher comments on consistency with yellow and red cards, particularly tackling from behind and denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity versus a professional foul where the challenger attempts to play the ball.
– Officiating positioning: He highlights the importance of referee and assistant positioning to get the best view and how modern referees adapt to the speed of top-level play to improve decision accuracy.
Referee communication and VAR
Gallagher discusses how referees should communicate decisions to managers, players, and spectators. He defends the use of VAR for match-changing incidents but urges clearer explanations to maintain transparency. He also notes that VAR is limited to specific scenarios (goals, penalties, direct red cards, mistaken identity) and should not be used as a catch-all.
Takeaways for officials and fans
– Margins are often fine: Many decisions are marginal and can be interpreted differently by competent officials.
– VAR is corrective, not perfect: It reduces clear errors but cannot eliminate controversy entirely.
– Context matters: The referee’s view, camera angles, and replay interpretation all contribute to final decisions.
Gallagher concludes that while some calls will always spark debate, applied consistently and transparently, the current officiating framework aims to get the right outcomes for critical incidents like Sesko’s goal.