The Football Association has released an official statement following intense backlash from fans after Mohamed Salah’s controversial second goal against Wolves was allowed to stand during their heated FA Cup knockout clash.
The moment occurred in the second half when Salah received a pass inside the attacking area before calmly finishing past the Wolves goalkeeper to score Liverpool’s second goal of the night. While the assistant referee initially kept the flag down, Wolves players immediately appealed for offside.
What followed was a tense wait as VAR reviewed the goal, but after a brief check the decision was confirmed — the goal would stand.
Within minutes, social media erupted.
Fans watching the replay clips online claimed that Salah looked clearly beyond the last Wolves defender when the ball was played. Some supporters questioned how VAR, which was designed to eliminate obvious mistakes, could allow the goal to stand.
Comments from frustrated viewers quickly flooded football forums and social media:
“What is the point of VAR if that isn’t offside?” one fan wrote.
Another added: “You can pause the replay and he’s ahead of the defender. Wolves have been absolutely robbed here.”
A third supporter questioned the transparency of the review: “Show us the VAR lines then. Because from every angle we’ve seen, that looks offside.”
As the controversy grew, the FA issued a statement explaining the decision.
According to the governing body, the VAR team conducted a full review of the incident and concluded that there was no clear evidence to overturn the on-field decision, meaning the assistant referee’s call remained in place.
The FA statement read:
“VAR reviewed the attacking phase leading to Mohamed Salah’s goal. After assessing the available broadcast angles, there was no conclusive evidence to show the attacker was in an offside position at the moment the ball was played. Therefore, the on-field decision to award the goal was confirmed.”
However, the explanation has done little to calm the debate.
Fans continue to argue online that the available replays suggest Salah had moved ahead of the defensive line before receiving the ball, with many demanding greater transparency from VAR officials.
For Wolves supporters, the frustration remains clear. What should have been a competitive FA Cup knockout battle has instead been overshadowed by yet another refereeing controversy — and a VAR decision that fans are still struggling to understand.