An outfield player in goal is a man overboard

Last week I spoke about a particular move during the Real Sociedad Barcelona match. Four attempted to take a free kick, with the same number Real Sociedad players standing offside. The ball ended up in the back of a net but the goal was disallowed. This was a bizarre move and was rightly disallowed. Another unusual move occurred this week when Espanyol goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte ran off his line and then rashly kicked Ceballos in his calf. He also touched the ball, which was passed to Rodrygo who scored, but in an offside position. [Referee] Melero López disallowed the goal. However, VAR warned him that Lecomte was guilty of a serious offence - it effectively prevented a goal-scoring opportunity. It was true. Ceballos would not have been able to score without that foul.

Espanyol is unable to make a substitute

A foul was called and was awarded a free kick. I was wondering if VAR was created for such moves (each Espanyol player felt Ceballos had dived), but we were already in stoppage and the score was at 1-2 so it wasn't really hard to argue that it was a decisive move. We will accept it. The already chaotic situation was made worse by the fact that the goalkeeper was sent off. An outfield player was required to play in goal for the resulting spot kick. The question was: had Espanyol used all five of their substitutions? The answer was no. They had exhausted all three substitution windows, which are window periods where changes can be made. The game has been rearranged according to the old rules of football, which has led to a shift away from its original logic.

Cabrera in between the sticks

Substitutions were not possible many years ago. A little over half a century ago, teams could bring on another player if the goalkeeper was hurt. There are now five changes, but it is not enough! Only in three windows! This was a golden opportunity that many Madrid players wanted to seize. However, they were put off by the sight of Benzema with the ball under his arm . It was as if he was telling them that when you're old enough, you'll get your turn. Cabrera was motionless, and Karim rifled through a gap in a wall and inside the post to get the ball. This goal reveals so much about the rules of the game.