Nottingham Forest have been informed by the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) that Manchester United’s second goal on Sunday should not have stood.
The Red Devils beat Forest 3-2 at Old Trafford in an entertaining contest, with one flashpoint of controversy in the second half.
As a cross came in from Manchester United’s right flank, Bryan Mbeumo tried to control the ball, it bounced off his leg on to his arm, which helped him get a shot away.
The shot was blocked and Matheus Cunha slotted home the rebound, but the celebrations were paused as VAR checked the goal.
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The VAR sent referee Michael Salisbury to the screen as they believed it was a handball, but the ref deemed it accidental and allowed the goal to stand.
There was much confusion as it seemed a clear handball, with even Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane baffled by the ‘ridiculous’ call.
Now the confusion has been cleared up as PGMO have admitted that a mistake was made, not that it will make Forest feel much better.
PGMO chief refereeing officer Howard Webb has been in touch with Nottingham Forest on Monday to make it clear that a mistake was made.
It will make no difference to the outcome of the match, but will cause further confusion over how the handball rule is judged.
While PGMO may have admitted that Salisbury got it wrong, it is not obvious why he made the decision that was clearly incorrect, even with the help of VAR.
A post from the Premier League Match Centre on Sunday read: ‘After VAR review, the referee stuck with the original decision to award a goal to Manchester United.
‘Referee announcement: “After review, the decision of goal stands because the handball offence is accidental, therefore the final decision is goal.’
Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira revealed what Salisbury told him after the game, telling a post-match press conference: ‘In the end it was a pity that the game was decided by a decision that I must accept, because it was the decision of the referee, but is not my opinion.
‘For me, it’s handball, very clear. For me that was the decision that decided the game.
‘He [the referee] thinks that the control with the hand was after the touch on the body. I must accept, but it’s not my opinion. I watched the image and in my opinion he controlled the ball with the hand and the goal comes from the control. If not they will not have the chance to shoot and to score.’
Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: ‘Honestly, that is ridiculous. The VAR has been clear: the player has handballed it.
‘He looked at it for three minutes and the referee has looked at it for another minute. I can’t believe what I have just seen. That was handball. I don’t know what to say.
‘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. They have got themselves into a real mess there.’