PGMO has admitted that Manchester United’s second goal against Nottingham Forest should not have been awarded.
United won 3-2 on Sunday after referee Michael Salisbury made the decision to override VAR after the ball hit Brian Mbeumo’s arm and was sent to the pitchside monitor in the build-up to Matheus Cunha’s shot.
PGMO referee Howard Webb admitted errors of judgment against Forest and Manchester United on Monday.
VAR felt that Mbeumo’s control of the ball between his arm and body before his shot was blocked and fell to Cunha was enough for the goal to be chalked away as a handball.
However, referee Salisbury deemed the handball an accident and made a decision contrary to the opinion of Stockley Park officials, surprising Sky Sports’ Gary Neville.
“It’s shocking in every sense of the word,” Neville said in co-commentary. “Honestly, it’s ridiculous. The VAR result was clear. It was clear that the player had handballed. He looked at it for three minutes and the referee looked at it for another minute. I can’t believe what I just saw.”
“I don’t think anyone playing that game or watching football would think that goal should have been awarded. It’s clear they didn’t allow it. He (Mbeumo) almost pushed the ball into his armpit.”
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Watch for free: Premier League match highlights between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest
The PGMO works regularly with clubs to maintain a positive dialogue on refereeing issues.
English football is trending towards a more lenient approach to handball rules following feedback from clubs, players, managers and fans.
However, the expected decision was to treat Mbeumo’s contact as a handball, and the PGMO therefore recognized it.
Ref Watch: VAR did all it could – Mbeumo’s cushion ball
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Ref Watch examines the decision to allow Matheus Cunha’s goal in Manchester United’s game against Nottingham Forest, despite a VAR review into Brian Mbeumo’s possible handball in the build-up.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports News’ Refwatch that Mbeumo cushioned the ball with his arm and gained the advantage.
“It should be banned,” Gallagher said.
“This is handball. I think Michael (Salisbury) was seduced by the instruction, “If the ball goes off your body and hits your arm, it’s an accident, keep playing.”
“But when you look at this, it’s completely different. I think VAR tried to guide him on this. He did the best he could.”
“Mbeumo has his arm out at the end of the game, but then his arm goes in. I think he traps the ball between his arm and his thigh.
“It definitely hit him in the thigh, but it didn’t jump up and hit his body. The ball was almost cushioned and Mbeumo had that chance.”
“At that point I listened to VAR and he clearly said, ‘I think there’s a handball foul.’
“He controls it with his hands, he puts him on the screen, he does everything he can, and it’s Michael’s choice.
“At the end of the day, do you think this is a coincidence? Is there enough evidence to say that the player gained a significant advantage by his actions?
“Actually, I think his arm came in and it cushioned the ball. I think the ball got trapped. If you look, there was a period of time where the ball was at rest inside his body.”
Pereira: Manchester United’s defeat was decided by a ‘very obvious’ handball
Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira said the result was decided by a clear handball call.
“Crazy game, crazy game,” Pereira said. “Maybe it was a good game for the supporters, but it was an open game for the manager.
“In the open game, especially in the second half, we allowed a lot of counter-attacks and counter-attacks were dangerous.
“But I understand the feeling of the team. They want goals. But in the end we started to lose our organization, our balance. They had chances to score. We had chances to score too, but in the end it was a shame that the game was decided by a decision. It was the referee’s decision, but it’s not my opinion so I have to accept it.”
“For me, it was a handball. It was very obvious. It’s sad that the goal wasn’t called back. For me, it was the decision that decided the game.”
Pereira also called for a meeting between referees and clubs to clarify rules and decisions.
“These are the questions we have at the moment in the Premier League regarding the decision to terminate,” he added.
“When it comes to handball, you never know when it’s handball or not.
“A block in the box during a free-kick, you never know when it’s a foul or not. I think it’s important to have a meeting with everyone and try to understand the rules and decisions, because at the moment everyone, every manager, is questioning some decisions.”
