Bryan Mbeumo handball vs. Nottingham Forest: Why Matheus Cunha’s Man United goal stood despite VAR check
Another week, another moment of VAR controversy in the Premier League.
Manchester United’s home game with Nottingham Forest may not have had much riding on it, with United’s Champions League qualification and Forest’s survival secured, but it was nonetheless a competitive game — and one that included a hugely contentious goal.
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With the scores at 1-1 in the second half, Bryan Mbeumo’s blocked shot fell kindly to Matheus Cunha, who placed a composed finish into the bottom-right corner.
Neither Cunha nor Mbeumo celebrated much initially, with both players seemingly expecting the goal to be disallowed for a handball offence. However, after a long VAR check, the goal was given, leading to bewildered fury among the Forest players and coaching staff.
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Why was Matheus Cunha’s goal not ruled out for a Bryan Mbeumo handball?
Before Cunha’s precise finish, Mbeumo had received a cross from Diogo Dalot and seen his shot on the turn blocked by the covering defenders.
Those Forest players immediately appealed to referee Michael Salisbury, insisting that Mbeumo had handled the ball. Replays clearly showed that Mbeumo, in trying to control Dalot’s cross, had trapped the ball between his right arm (by his side) and his hip.
Matthew Donohue, the VAR, recommended an on-field review. Usually, this results in the referee changing his initial decision. However, on this occasion, he allowed the goal to stand, stating via the stadium feed: «After review, the decision of goal stands because the handball offence is accidental, therefore the final decision is goal.»
This story will be updated.
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