[reddwarf]

Keith Hackett, the Premier League referee's chief, says it was a legitimate goal. Panucci slid off the pitch after colliding with his own player, Buffon, and was not receiving treatment and therefore was still active.

It was a masterclass of counter attacking football by the Dutch - the 2nd and 3rd goals came so quickly after the Italians had nearly scored at the other end that their defence had no time to get back into position.

A stunning result and one that throws the group wide open after Romania's impressive, and tbh boring, draw against France.

 

[reddwarf]

Panucci was out of the pitch, injured, didn't watch the action.....How can you consider his position active? However, Italy has deserved to lose.....

They are saying that he had not been given permission to leave the field for treatment by the referee so was still active.

11.4.1. of the refereeing code states...

"an opposing player cannot be offside when one of the last two defenders has left the field of play"

This is to prevent defenders hopping off the pitch to play attackers offside. In this case it was unfortunate because, as you say, Panucci was injured after the collision with Buffon so could not get back on. However, his teammates should have been aware of the rules and not have been trying to play offside in that situation.