Manchester United’s topsy-turvy season hit another bump in the road at London Stadium on Sunday.
Erik ten Hag has been lauded for the job he’s done during his debut season at Old Trafford, but injuries are starting to take their toll and it looks as if the Red Devils are going to stutter over the finish line.
Defeat at Brighton on Thursday, thanks to Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty nine minutes into stoppage time, was followed up by a 1-0 reverse at West Ham – Said Benrahma’s winner gifted thanks to a horrendous error from the increasingly under-fire David de Gea.
However, the major talking point during the contest was the decision made by referee Peter Bankes and video assistant referee (VAR) Stuart Attwell to not award the Hammers a penalty for a seemingly clear handball by United defender Victor Lindelof.
“He’s extremely lucky”
Was Victor Lindelöf lucky to not concede a penalty? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Ig9UaWXAfu
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 8, 2023
This has to be one of the more baffling non-VAR interventions we’ve ever seen. Lindelof appeared to get away with what looked like a clear handball on the stroke of half-time.
While his arm wasn’t outstretched, the Swede moved his right hand towards the ball which prevented Benrahma’s hooked cross from causing any danger. Bankes overlooked the incident and subsequently blew for half-time, but he wasn’t even instructed by Attwell to have another look at the sequence himself.
Explaining why Lindelof wasn’t penalised is pretty tough. According to the FA laws, handball is when a player ‘deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm’ or ‘touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger’. This incident certainly falls into the former.
There has not yet been an explanation from PGMOL regarding the decision, and it’s hard to envisage anything but another apology from Howard Webb.
You know the officials have probably had a stinker when former referee Peter Walton doesn’t agree with the decision.
“On first reflection, I looked at it and thought the arm was in his body line so he hadn’t made himself bigger,” Walton told BT Sport at half-time. “When you look at it again, there’s clear movement of the arm towards the ball. That is an offence and should have been given.
“The VAR should have given referee Peter Bankes every opportunity to have another look at it. It’s a penalty kick. That [arm movement] is the evidence that is required to give the decision so for me a penalty kick.”
Robbed
— Carlton Cole (@CarltonCole1) May 7, 2023
That is absolutely handball from Lindelof. Begs the question what the point of VAR really is?#WHUFC will be fuming.
— Toby Cudworth (@Toby_Cudworth) May 7, 2023
Rare to see players + fans appeal like that in such unison. Replays show why. Lindelof moves his arm to the ball. It is hooked by his side but that looked a clear penalty.#MUFC
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) May 7, 2023
HT: #WHUFC 1-0 #MUFC. Yet another match when a big decision goes against West Ham. How on earth did VAR not look at Lindelof’s handball? Lack of consistency is a big issue in the Premier League. If that was for Man United we all know what the outcome would be.
— Roshane Thomas (@RoshaneSport) May 7, 2023
Clearly a handball by Lindelof. Remarkable that VAR didn’t intervene.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 7, 2023
BT Sport pundit Joe Cole described Lindelof’s handball as a “nailed-on penalty” while former West Ham striker Carlton Cole said his former employers had been “robbed”.
Nobody could understand why VAR didn’t intervene and refer Bankes to take another look, apart from Jermaine Jenas – he said on commentary duties that Lindelof’s arm “is right up close to his body. I don’t think that’s a penalty, personally.” Hmm.
