PGMO admits handball error on Man Utd goal v Forest

Manchester UnitedHis second goal in Sunday’s Premier League win Nottingham Forest Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) admitted handball should not have been allowed.

The referee panel contacted Forest on Monday to confirm that referee Michael Salisbury had made the wrong decision and Salisbury refused a video assistant referee (VAR) review to rule out the goal.

The ball went off the arm of United striker Bryan Mbeumo before the Cameroon international saw his defender block his shot.

Teammate Matheus Cunha took the loose ball and fired past Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels to score.

Salisbury was sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR Matt Donohue to disallow a goal.

However, Salisbury ruled the handball was accidental and stuck with the field goal decision.

United took a 2-0 lead in the match, which they won 3-2.

Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White said after the game: “From the angle I was standing it looked like he caught the ball.”

“Whether he scored or not, for me the game was still a handball.”

Referees’ boss Howard Webb spoke to Forest and explained that although there were legitimate reasons to rule that it was not a handball, it was a better and expected decision not to allow it.

The Premier League has a more tolerant approach to handball, understanding players’ natural movements, but a VAR review should have been accepted.

Webb’s view was shared by former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann.

“While I think it is commendable for a referee to stick to his original decision, I believe the expectation of football is that Mbeumo’s control of the ball outweighs any possible deflection of Mbeumo’s hip, especially when the ball results in a goal,” Cann told BBC Sport.

“Mbeumo controls the ball [with his hand] Even though he is not a striker, the expectation of football is that this should not be allowed.”

This was only the 17th time in seven seasons, and the fourth time this season, that a referee rejected on-screen VAR advice.