Referee Correctly Disallowed Rayo Vallecano’s Goal Against Barcelona

In the 43rd minute of the La Liga match between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano, referee Mario Melero Lopez made the correct decision to disallow a goal by Jorge de Frutos that would have equalized the score.

During the play, Randy Nteka was in an offside position when the pass was made to de Frutos, who was onside. Although Nteka did not receive the ball directly, he actively interfered with play while offside, influencing the actions of Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez.

Melero Lopez rightly called offside on Nteka and disallowed the goal, as the player’s involvement from an offside position impacted the defensive play, even though he did not touch the ball.

This decision demonstrates the importance of understanding the nuances of the offside rule, which goes beyond simply receiving the ball in an offside position. Active involvement in play while offside, even without touching the ball, can be grounds for an offside call.