Akanji slams 'joking' decision not to disallow Man Utd equalizer
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has called the decision not to disallow Manchester United's first goal in Saturday's derby a "joke".
Jack Grealish had seemingly set City up three points with their opener in the second half, but Bruno Fernandes controversially equalized before Marcus Rashford secured a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.
>City were furious with the United leveler because Rashford, who was offside, went close to the ball but allowed Fernandes to fire.
The flag was initially raised to signal an offside against Rashford, but referee Stuart Attwell overturned the decision after speaking to his assistant Darren Cann.
The fact that Rashford opted not to touch the ball and technically didn't hinder Akanji meant the England striker was not seen as interfering with play, so the goal counted.
p>Attwell's decision caused a stir on social media, with former professionals among those questioning the outcome, and Akanji is adamant it was the wrong call.
"For me, the first goal is a joke that it's going to be allowed like that," he told the BBC.
"In this situation, I see that Rashford is clearly offside, so I'm playing him offside. He really runs until the last second and stops when the ball is in front of him.
"He is right in front of Edi [Ederson] to score the goal then he stops because Bruno calls him from behind that he [Fernandes] is not in an offside position.
"I understand that he doesn't touch the ball, but he runs for about 30 yards, he chases the ball and then he stops. For me, it's clearly offside."
City's loss leaves them just a point above United and gives Arsenal the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points if they beat Tottenham in the North London derby Sunday.
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has called the decision not to disallow Manchester United's first goal in Saturday's derby a "joke".
Jack Grealish had seemingly set City up three points with their opener in the second half, but Bruno Fernandes controversially equalized before Marcus Rashford secured a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.
>City were furious with the United leveler because Rashford, who was offside, went close to the ball but allowed Fernandes to fire.
The flag was initially raised to signal an offside against Rashford, but referee Stuart Attwell overturned the decision after speaking to his assistant Darren Cann.
The fact that Rashford opted not to touch the ball and technically didn't hinder Akanji meant the England striker was not seen as interfering with play, so the goal counted.
p>Attwell's decision caused a stir on social media, with former professionals among those questioning the outcome, and Akanji is adamant it was the wrong call.
"For me, the first goal is a joke that it's going to be allowed like that," he told the BBC.
"In this situation, I see that Rashford is clearly offside, so I'm playing him offside. He really runs until the last second and stops when the ball is in front of him.
"He is right in front of Edi [Ederson] to score the goal then he stops because Bruno calls him from behind that he [Fernandes] is not in an offside position.
"I understand that he doesn't touch the ball, but he runs for about 30 yards, he chases the ball and then he stops. For me, it's clearly offside."
City's loss leaves them just a point above United and gives Arsenal the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points if they beat Tottenham in the North London derby Sunday.
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