PGMO admits – Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) has admitted a handball error after Manchester United’s second goal against Nottingham Forest should have been disallowed, following a rejected VAR check by referee Michael Salisbury.
Manchester United’s second goal against Nottingham Forest didn’t just swing the momentum in a 3-2 Premier League win on Sunday—it also landed in the middle of a rules debate that has now been officially acknowledged.
PGMO has admitted the goal should have been ruled out for handball. The referees’ body contacted Forest on Monday to confirm there had been a misjudgement by referee Michael Salisbury, who rejected a video assistant referee (VAR) review to rule out the goal.
The incident came with the ball dropping toward United after it came off the arm of Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroon international then saw a shot blocked by a defender, but team-mate Matheus Cunha moved onto the loose ball and fired a shot past Forest keeper Matz Sels to score.
Under the process, Salisbury was sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR, Matt Donohue, with the intention of disallowing the goal. Salisbury still decided the handball was accidental and stuck with his original decision rather than overturning it.
That left United 2-1 up in a game they went on to win 3-2.
For Forest, the frustration was immediate and clear. Midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White said: “From the angle I was standing at, it looked like he caught the ball.” He added: “Whether he scores or not, for me it was still a handball.”
Howard Webb. referees’ boss. then spoke to Forest to explain that while there could be justifiable reasons to judge the incident a certain way. the expectation was different—specifically that a better decision would be to disallow the goal.. Webb’s point landed on the Premier League’s framework for these calls: the league has a more lenient approach to handball. factoring in natural movements. but the VAR review should have been accepted.
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann agreed with the correction. framing it around what football expects when a hand is involved in the lead-up to a goal.. Cann told BBC Sport: “While I think that it is commendable to see a referee stick with his original decision. I believe that football’s expectation is Mbeumo controlling the ball. especially when it leads to a goal. outweighs the possible deflection off Mbeumo’s hip.”
He added: “Mbeumo does control the ball [with his hand] and while he’s not the scorer himself, football’s expectation is for that to be disallowed.”
There’s another detail that helps explain why the admission matters. It was only the 17th time in seven seasons—and the fourth this season—that a referee has rejected the advice of the VAR at the screen.
PGMO Manchester United Nottingham Forest Michael Salisbury VAR handball Bryan Mbeumo Matheus Cunha Matz Sels Howard Webb Darren Cann Morgan Gibbs-White
So VAR didn’t even matter then. Sounds like they just picked the outcome they wanted and moved on.
Handball rules are so dumb. If it hits someone’s arm “accidentally” then it’s somehow okay? But then they admit it later like… what’s the point of the whole thing.
Wait, I thought VAR already overruled it? Like I swear I saw the replay where the goal was gonna stand no matter what, and now PGMO is saying it shoulda been disallowed. Not even sure why that ball “coming off the arm” matters if it’s not the shooter.
This is why nobody trusts refs. It’s “accidental” until it isn’t, and then they call Forest after the match like sorry, here’s your imaginary missed goal. Also they mention it’s more lenient for handball with natural movement… that sounds like legalese for “whatever.”