Ian Wright slams decision to disallow Romelu Lukaku’s goal in Belgium’s 2-0 win over Romania… as Ange Postecoglou jokes ‘don’t get me started’ about new technology

Ian Wright and Ange Postecoglou have rebuked the decision to rule out Romelu Lukaku‘s goal against Romania as offside. 

Lukaku thought he had doubled Belgium’s lead on Saturday night before semi-automatic technology called him offside in a hair-splitting decision. 

While Belgium went on to win 2-0, the striker has already had three goals snuffed out at Euro 2024 – after two were scrubbed off in their 1-0 defeat by Slovakia. 

‘As a striker, I’m never going to be able to accept that kind of offside, especially when forwards are trying to bend runs and we’re talking about an advantage,’ Wright told ITV Sport. 

‘I can’t understand that when a defender and a forward are facing the same way, and you’re talking about millimetres, that the forward has got an advantage there. 

Ange Postecoglou fears that football is being ‘turned into forensics’ by the strict rulings

Romelu Lukaku has now had three goals ruled out at Euro 2024, with Belgium losing out on three points as a result of two against Slovakia

‘This to me… people say it’s offside. I cannot accept that as offside.’ 

Youri Tielemans had given Belgium an emphatic lead after 73 seconds and Kevin De Bruyne rounded off the night with a late strike to send Belgium top of Group E.

While Domenico tedesco’s side have at least briefly rediscovered their mojo, the offside call against Lukaku prompted strong debate. 

Postecoglou said: ‘Don’t get me started! My frustration is that we’ve turned football into forensics now, millimetres. 

‘I think if that goal had stood without offside technology, nobody would have said anything. 

‘When is contact made with the ball? We’ve seen the end product of that [but not when the pass was played]. 

‘It’s changed the game materially. I’m not a fan but it is there and it is used. The only positive I see is that they’re doing it quickly.’