The Netherlands’ first goal against France in a Group D match of Euro 2024, scored by Xavi Simons, was disallowed by the referee after a VAR review, much to the dismay of the Oranje fans at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany.
In the 69th minute, Simons received the ball at the edge of the box and unleashed a shot that found the back of the net, sending Dutch fans into a frenzy. However, the celebration was short-lived as the referee and linesman engaged in a lengthy discussion. The linesman had initially raised his flag for offside, as Dutch full-back Denzel Dumfries was positioned ahead of the last defender.
After a thorough review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), however, the referee, Anthony Taylor, ruled out the goal for a different reason: obstructing the goalkeeper. It was determined that Dumfries not only stood in an offside position but also impeded the line of sight of Mike Maignan, the French goalkeeper, who had initially made a save on the shot.
The incident falls under the ‘offside offence’ as defined by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the governing body that sets the rules of the game. A player is penalized for being in an offside position when the ball is played or touched by a teammate if they become actively involved in the play by:
* Interfering with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a teammate.
* Interfering with an opponent by gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when the ball has:
* been played or touched by a teammate
* been touched or handled by an opponent
* been played or touched by an opponent and then touched or handled by another opponent.
