Leicester have sought clarification from the Premier League amid their doubts over the VAR process that saw them concede their opening goal in last Saturday's draw with Crystal Palace.
With Leicester leading 2-0 at Selhurst Park, Jean-Philippe Mateta turned the ball in for the home side early in the second half. The goal was originally ruled out for offside only to be granted after a VAR check. The match ended 2-2 after Mateta also scored an injury-time penalty.
It was an extremely tight call. On the X account of the Premier League Match Centre, which the governing body is using this season to explain marginal decisions, two images were released.
The first shows James Justin raising his foot to try to block the cross from Tyrick Mitchell, as Mateta lurks in the middle. The second shows Mateta in the centre, well behind a single green line.
Mail Sport understands Leicester are not yet convinced that the image used to deem Mateta onside is from the precise moment the ball was played, rather than a fraction of a second afterwards. There is a five-centimetre margin of error built into the current technology. Semi-automated offside, which is thought to produce a more accurate assessment of calls like these, is due to be introduced from October.
Following the match, Leicester boss Steve Cooper said: ‘If it is offside, no problem, we'll hold our hands up, but we can't be calling offsides on suggestions, which is only what we've seen at the moment. We need to get that image quickly off the Premier League. If it is, I'll accept it.’
Leicester have already clashed with officialdom this season, albeit with the FA rather than the Premier League.
The FA charged the club with failing to control their players after they protested referee David Coote’s decision not to award a penalty towards the end of their 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa on August 31.
After winning promotion last season, Leicester know they face a tough campaign – though it could have been immeasurably more difficult but for a significant victory off the pitch.
An independent panel ruled that the club should not face punishment under profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) for losses incurred in recent seasons, even though they were charged with breaching those regulations by the Premier League earlier this year.
Had the charge been upheld, Leicester would probably have faced a significant points deduction this season. Following the verdict, the Premier League released a statement saying they were ‘surprised and disappointed’.
