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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Gareth Fullerton

Why was Karim Benzema's goal disallowed in Champions League final? Former referee explains reasons

Many football fans were left scratching their heads after Karim Benzema's goal was disallowed in the Champions League final.

Benzema looked to have put Real Madrid in front just before the half-time break at the Stade de France.

But the Spanish side's celebrations were cut short when the referee's assistant raised his flag for offside.

Read more: Gary Neville rips into BT Sport's coverage of Champions League chaos

A lengthy pause followed as the incident was reviewed by VAR.

Replays showed the ball was played into Benzema's path off the knee of Liverpool's Fabinho, with many believing the Frenchman was onside and the goal would stand.

But VAR backed up the original decision and Liverpool were allowed to go in at half-time still on level terms.

Former referee Peter Walton explained the reasons behind the decision.

He told BT Sport: "It's actually quite easy, Benzema is an offside position and the offence is committed if the ball is played back to him.

"It deflects off Fabinho, he doesn't deliberately play it back to him, so Benzema is not deemed to be onside.

"The offside offence is committed when he receive the ball. It comes off a Liverpool player but Benzema is only played onside if the Liverpool player is deemed to have deliberately played the ball."

Read more: Liverpool fans blast "nightmare" queues as many miss Champions League final kick-off

Read more: Champions League final LIVE score updates from Liverpool vs Real Madrid

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