Graham Poll: Luis Suarez was not offside

Published: 22 Aug 2011 - 17:46:01

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Graham Poll: Luis Suarez was not offside

Arsene Wenger bemoaned his luck at what he felt was an offside goal and the analysis in super slo-mo seemed to prove he had a case. However, the International Football Association Board decreed a number of seasons ago that unless a player touches the ball then he is not interfering with play. Although Luis Suarez was in a marginally offside position, he did not touch the ball. It was intercepted by Arsenal defender Ignasi Miquel, who played it off Aaron Ramsey before it rebounded into the net. Not offside: Graham Poll says Luis Suarez's goal was legitimate The fairness of the IFAB interpretation is open to debate, but officials have to adjudicate based on those instructions. At the Stadium of Light, a feisty encounter was as tough a match to control as you will see in this country. Four red cards could and perhaps should have been shown as post-match analysis showed Sebastian Larsson handling the ball on the goal-line, Ryan Taylor throwing an elbow at Asamoah Gyan and Lee Cattermole committing more than two yellow-card offences. Fever pitch: Joey Barton (left) protests to Howard Webb after Sebastian Larsson's handball However, referee Howard Webb's approach meant that this game had it all: the pace and intensity typified all that makes the Premier League the most exciting in the world. Video replays would have led to a very different outcome which those in the stadium would not have enjoyed. Graham Poll: The luck that deserted Liverpool was being used up by Stoke Graham Poll: Why the referee got it so wrong over Barton Graham Poll verdict: Referee should have sent Richardson off Graham Poll: Community Shield curtain raiser sets the perfect tone ahead of the new season