The Premier League Match Centre has issued a statement on the controversial handball decision at Old Trafford, which former Manchester United defender Gary Neville labelled as 'ridiculous'. Matheus Cunha scored Manchester United's second goal against Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon, but the goal was initially expected to be ruled out.
A cross reached Bryan Mbeumo, bobbled up and struck his arm before the Cameroonian forward managed to get a shot off. The effort was blocked, and the ball fell to Cunha, who scored. VAR quickly reviewed the incident and sent referee Michael Salisbury to the pitchside monitor to reconsider the decision. Surprisingly, the referee allowed the goal to stand, confirming that he deemed Mbeumo's handball as accidental. The Red Devils went on to secure a 3-2 victory, and the Premier League Match Centre released an explanation for the decision.
Match Centre Statement
A post on X stated: 'After VAR review, the referee stuck with the original decision to award a goal to Manchester United. Referee announcement: "After review, the decision of goal stands because the handball offence is accidental, therefore the final decision is goal."'
It was an unusual situation, as it is rare for VAR to send the referee to the screen only for the referee to uphold the original call. Neville expressed disbelief, insisting it was clearly a handball that should have led to the goal being disallowed. 'Honestly, that is ridiculous,' the former Manchester United defender said on Sky Sports. 'The VAR has been clear: the player has handballed it. He looked at it for three minutes and the referee has looked at it for another minute. I can't believe what I have just seen. That was handball. I don't know what to say.'
Reactions and Handball Law
Neville continued: 'I think that is an absolute shocker in every single way. It's ridiculous. The VAR have been quite clear, they said it has been disallowed, he has handballed it and brought the ball back into play. I can't believe what I have just seen to be honest. VAR looked at it for three minutes and then the referee looks at it for another minute. They are overthinking it. They have got themselves into a real mess there.'
According to the IFAB Laws of the Game, under Law 12, handling the ball is an offence if a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, or touches it when their hand/arm has made their body unnaturally bigger. However, not every touch of a player's hand/arm with the ball is an offence. Premier League record goal-scorer Alan Shearer posted on X: 'Wow. That's disgraceful. Shocking shocking shocking. That's a CLEAR hand ball.'
