Newcastle's Alexander Isak denied clear goal with 'worst offside decision ever'

Alexander Isak found himself the victim of an incorrect VAR decision that was immediately described as the refereeing system's worst mistake yet.

striker Isak thought he had scored for Sweden in their Nations League game against Azerbaijan on Tuesday night only to find the strike was cancelled for an offside call and case of mistaken identity.

TV footage broadcast Polish VAR Pawel Malec drawing lines that showed Isak marginally offside when Viktor Gyokeres, who was yards onside, received a pass during the build-up to the ruled out goal.

But Isak was then clearly onside when he was played the ball by Gyokeres on the left wing in the final moments of the first half. However referee Pawel Raczkowski still inexplicably went with Malec's decision. To compound matters, the Toon star went on to have penalty saved early in the second half.

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And while Sweden ran out 6-0 winners in Stockholm, to ensure they finish top of Nations League C Group 1, the wrong call still tainted their evening. ’s Dejan Kulusevski scored twice with Gyokeres, the Sporting Lisbon star being eyed for a big-money move next summer, finding the net four times.

But speaking afterwards a fuming Isak said: "How is that possible? Seriously. It's almost the worst I've seen. I'm happy, of course, that we win, but when I score a goal that should be allowed, then it's clear that you get annoyed.

"I don't think I've ever experienced anything like this at this level when I've been involved. You've seen a lot of mistakes, but this one was pretty rough. The VAR referees stood in the player tunnel at halftime.

"We argued with them, but they stuck to their decision that they had made the right call."

Head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson added to the frustrations when declaring: "I was furious, the whole team was furious. I don't understand it. For me, it was a goal, but we can't change it."

Sweden’s domestic league is the highest-ranked in Europe that is holding out against introducing VAR with fans and clubs steadfastly arguing against the system’s introduction because they feel it will impact the purity of the game.

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