Gary Neville was left perplexed by referee Michael Salisbury’s decision not to disallow Man United’s second goal against Nottingham Forest after VAR had recommended him to overturn the on-field call.
Matheus Cunha made it 2-1 to United in the 54th minute just moments after Forest had equalised at Old Trafford, but delivered a muted celebration with his Man United team-mates after realising his goal could well be chalked off for a handball in the build-up.
Noticing that Bryan Mbeumo had appeared to handle the ball inside the penalty area prior to Cunha’s fine finish, VAR intervened to check Salisbury’s on-field decision of goal and eventually sent the referee to the pitch side monitor.
To the utter bemusement of Neville and his co-commentator Peter Drury, who both claim to have heard VAR recommend the decision be overturned, Salisbury decided to stand by his on-field verdict.
The former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit said: ‘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.’ Salisbury, who reviewed the incident multiple times at the pitchside monitor before making his final decision, explained why he had come to his conclusion over his microphone.
‘After review, the decision of goal stands because the handball offence is accidental, therefore the final decision is goal,’ he told the Old Trafford crowd.
More to follow.
Gary Neville, Michael Salisbury, VAR controversy, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, football refereeing