Ruud van Nistelrooy Unleashes His Frustration as Leicester City Falls Victim to Controversial Officiating in FA Cup Clash Against Manchester United
Ruud van Nistelrooy did not hold back his emotions following Leicester City’s agonizing exit from the FA Cup, as the former Manchester United striker lashed out at what he described as an officiating disaster. The Dutchman was left outraged by a highly contentious call that ultimately crushed Leicester’s hopes of progressing, branding the decision as nothing short of a farce.
The incident in question occurred deep into stoppage time, just as the match seemed destined for extra time. With Leicester clinging onto their hard-fought lead, Harry Maguire emerged as the unlikely hero for United, heading home a dramatic last-gasp winner. However, replays quickly revealed that Maguire had strayed into an offside position, igniting fury among Leicester supporters and sparking heated debates over the legitimacy of the goal.
For Van Nistelrooy, the controversy was too blatant to ignore. In his post-match interview, the Dutchman dismissed comparisons to Manchester United’s famous “Fergie Time” comebacks of the past, insisting that this was not about added minutes favoring the Red Devils—but rather about a clear-cut officiating blunder. He sarcastically dubbed the moment “Offside Time,” emphasizing that Maguire’s goal should never have stood.
Van Nistelrooy Calls Out Referees Over Maguire’s Offside Goal
Speaking to ITV after the match, Van Nistelrooy did not mince his words, calling the officiating decision “outrageous” and questioning how such an obvious mistake was allowed to stand.
“This wasn’t about ‘Fergie Time’—this was about ‘Offside Time,’” he fumed. “You don’t need VAR for this. It’s not about millimeters or fine margins; he was half a meter offside! Leicester played their hearts out and deserved at least a chance in extra time, but they were robbed of that opportunity.”
His remarks echoed the frustrations of Leicester City’s fanbase, who were left in disbelief that Maguire’s goal had not been ruled out. The outrage only intensified when it was pointed out that VAR was not in use for this round of the competition, as FA Cup rules only implement video review technology from the Fifth Round onward. While this has long been the policy, it did little to ease the pain of Leicester’s elimination.
Leicester’s Brave Effort Ends in Heartbreak
Leicester City had every reason to feel hard done by after delivering an inspired performance at Old Trafford. The Foxes had taken the lead through a well-placed header from Bobby De Cordova-Reid, a goal that rewarded their resilience and attacking intent. They looked set to pull off a stunning cup upset, especially after Caleb Okoli’s incredible goal-line clearance denied United an equalizer.
But just when Leicester fans dared to dream, their hopes were shattered. Joshua Zirkzee found the back of the net to level the score late in the game, before Maguire’s controversial stoppage-time winner sealed their fate. The Foxes, who had put everything on the line, were left devastated as their FA Cup journey came to an abrupt and bitter end.
Can Leicester Bounce Back From This Setback?
With their cup ambitions crushed, Leicester City now have no choice but to turn their full attention to the Premier League, where they are battling to escape the looming threat of relegation. The defeat at Old Trafford marked yet another painful blow for a team struggling for form, with Brendan Rodgers’ side now having lost eight of their last nine matches across all competitions.
Their immediate challenge? A daunting home fixture against Arsenal. The Foxes must regroup quickly and find a way to reignite their season, as every point now becomes crucial in their fight for survival. Whether this controversial FA Cup exit serves as fuel to spark a resurgence—or further drains their confidence—remains to be seen.
As for Van Nistelrooy, his criticism of the officiating will likely add to the ongoing debate about refereeing standards in English football. But for Leicester, there is little time to dwell on the injustice—they must now pick themselves up and battle to keep their Pr
emier League status intact.