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.
The controversial incident occurred in the 55th minute when Bryan Mbeumo controlled Diogo Dalot’s cross with the help of his right arm. When his shot was blocked, the ball ran for Matheus Cunha to put United ahead on the way to a 3-2 win.
Salisbury was told to go to the pitch-side monitor by VAR official Matthew Donohue but stuck by his original decision on the basis that Mbeumo’s handball was accidental.
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 on commentary duty: ‘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.
Bryan Mbeumo appeared to handle the ball just moments before Matheus Cunha’s strike
Michael Salisbury stood by his initial decision of goal despite VAR recommending to overturn it
‘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.’
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.
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Neville added: ‘We have to admire referees who stand by their decisions. That wasn’t the time to do it.’
Manchester United went on to win 3-2 after what was a thrilling match at Old Trafford, with Luke Shaw, Cunha and Mbeumo all on the scoresheet for the Red Devils.
Forest, who equalised through Morato in the 52nd minute and clawed the game back to 3-2 through Morgan Gibbs-White in the 77th minute, were understandably furious at the decision both during and after the match.
During his post-match press conference, Vitor Pereira claimed that managers need a meeting with match officials because they are no longer sure of the rules, warning the controversy would have been ‘a big problem’ if Forest were still in danger of going down.
Pereira said: ‘It was a pity that the game was decided for a decision that I must accept because it’s the decision of the referee, but it’s not my opinion.
‘For me, it’s handball, very clear, but he decided not to and for me it was the decision that decided the game.
‘If the game today was decided in this way and we needed the points to be safe – big problem.’
Asked if he had spoken to the referee, Pereira added: ‘He thinks the control with the hand was after the touch on the body. It’s not my opinion because I watch the image, and he controls the ball with the hand and the goal comes from the control. If not, they will not have a chance to shoot and score.
‘But this is the doubt we have in this moment in Premier League about these decisions. We don’t know what is handball or not. The blocks in the box: we don’t know when it’s foul or not.
Gary Neville branded the decision from Salisbury an ‘absolute shocker’ in utter disbelief
Vitor Pereira hit out at the decision and said it would be a ‘big problem’ if Forest weren’t safe
‘It’s important to have a meeting with everybody and try to understand the rules, the decisions. Because I think everybody, all the managers in this moment have doubts about some decisions.’
Micah Richards and Roy Keane also weighed in on the controversial decision at full-time.
‘It’s handball, it’s as simple as that. We’ve talked about VAR and their influence on games but this was as clear as day,’ Richards said.
Man United legend Keane admitted he too was ‘scratching his head’ over the decision and suggested every former professional footballer would want that goal ruled out for a handball.
Elliot Anderson was outstanding against one of the clubs interested in signing him this summer, and Pereira admitted that the £100million-rated midfielder faces an uncertain future at Forest.
‘This is an answer I don’t have,’ he added. ‘The market is the market, and everything can happen. What I can say to you is the club wants to keep him playing for us, for sure.’
Towards the end of the game, Bruno Fernandes also matched the Premier League’s all-time record for assists in a single season, joining Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry in the history books on 20 ahead of the final day of the campaign next Sunday.
