Many Call For Offsides Rule Change After Kylian Mbappe’s Controversial Goal In Nations League Final

Kylian Mbappe played hero for France in the Nations League Final against Spain.

As the two teams were tied 1-1 in the second half, Mbappe was offside when he took a pass from Theo Hernandez and found the back of the net. However, the goal stood because Spain’s Eric Garcia made an attempt to play the ball.

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Kylian Mbappé scored the second goal for France and gives them the lead with an ice-cold finish. He scored this one like a cold-blooded assassin. What a finish! What a goal! #ESPFRA #UEFANationsLeague pic.twitter.com/lFrY8iZROv

— Wirjil (@Wirjil) October 10, 2021

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According to Spain players, the refs said that because Eric Garcia touched the ball on the way to Kylian Mbappe, the play took on a new ‘phase’, and the offside was essentially voided.

“Mbappe was offside, but the referee said that Eric went for the ball and that this started a new phase,” Sergio Busquets told RTVE.

“That makes no sense, though. He went to try to cut the ball out because Mbappe was there and he assumed Mbappe was onside, so he did what any defender would have done in trying to cut it out.”

After the Kylian Mbappe game-winner, many were calling for a drastic change to the offsides rule.

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After Mbappe's goal in the Nations League Final, does the offside rule need changing? 🤔
I think it does pic.twitter.com/CdXzhxBKt6

— league of legends (@legends_turff) October 12, 2021

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How will I tell my kids Mane was ruled offside but Mbappe was ruled onside? pic.twitter.com/P48NSwK0NU

— Daniel van Buyten (@DanielVanBuytem) October 10, 2021

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Interesting application of offside in the #UEFANationsFinal for Kylian Mbappe's winner.

It's a decision which is correct in law to allow the goal, but one which many will feel should be disallowed in the spirit of the game.

Mbappe is clearly offside when the pass is played. pic.twitter.com/OWC7lUK0OT

— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonESPN) October 10, 2021

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Busquets: "the referee told us that Eric Garcia wanted to play the ball and that kills the offside… But he wanted to play the ball because the ball would have reached Mbappe who was offside! It doesn't make sense!" pic.twitter.com/imhepp236Z

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) October 10, 2021

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VAR checking whether Mbappe's goal was offside. pic.twitter.com/MwfNBPHdlm

— Paddy Power (@paddypower) October 10, 2021

The Kylian Mbappe goal wasn’t a bad call on the pitch, but it appears to be a rule that needs some tinkering in the future.

A defender can’t be expected not to play a ball if they think a player if offsides. And in this case, it costed Spain a chance in the Nations League Final.

Kylian Mbappe won’t be complaining. But I’d expect an offsides rule change to take place sometimes in the future.

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