In a dramatic turn of events following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, a match official has come forward with explosive claims regarding a denied penalty decision that has ignited widespread controversy.
“There was serious miscommunication somewhere — I was clearly told not to give the penalty to Manchester United,” the referee stated. “Now just a few hours later, I’m the one under fire! That was a blatant penalty, everyone saw it. I made the call, but I was overruled — simple as that. Blame whoever gave the order, not me. United were robbed and now I’m being thrown under the bus. This whole situation is a complete mess and it’s unfair!”
The incident in question occurred during a contentious tackle by Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams on United’s Alejandro Garnacho. Adams launched into Garnacho with both feet off the ground, a challenge deemed reckless but not serious foul play by referee Peter Bankes and confirmed by VAR, resulting in only a yellow card. The Premier League later supported the decision via its official Match Centre X account, prompting outrage from United fans who believed it warranted a red card.
Adding to United supporters’ frustration, two penalty claims involving Harry Maguire were denied and not reviewed by VAR.
The match concluded with a stoppage-time equalizer by Manchester United’s Rasmus Højlund, salvaging a point for the team.
This latest controversy adds to a series of officiating decisions that have gone against Manchester United in recent times. Notably, during a match against West Ham United, a late penalty was awarded after a collision between United’s Matthijs de Ligt and West Ham’s Danny Ings, leading to a 2-1 defeat. The decision was later deemed incorrect by Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer at PGMOL.
As the season progresses, Manchester United faces mounting challenges both on and off the pitch. The club’s management and supporters are calling for greater transparency and accountability in officiating decisions to ensure the integrity of the game.
