Manchester United were right to feel aggrieved because their opening goal on Thursday night against Rangers was chalked off.
The Red Devils needed an extra-time winner from Bruno Fernandes to seal a dramatic 2-1 win in the Europa League, giving them a fantastic chance of finishing in the top eight to secure automatic passage to the last 16 of the tournament.
United felt they had made a good start when Matthijs de Ligt headed in an Amad corner after 24 minutes to put the Red Devils’ ahead and ease the nerves around Old Trafford.
Nonetheless, the referee, Erik Lambrechts, blew the whistle quite rapidly and denied the Dutchman his second goal for the club because of a supposed push from Leny Yoro on Rangers’ player Robin Propper in the lead up.
On closer inspection, the “foul” seemed very suspect and numerous fans were in total disbelief that VAR looked at the decision and did not overturn it.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official, Keith Hackett, has told Football Insider that the decision to disallow Matthijs de Ligt’s goal was the wrong one, and “VAR should have intervened.”
Commenting on the incident Hackett stated, “the referee will be rather annoyed that when he disallowed the De Ligt’s goal he was deceived by the defender who threw himself to the ground. There was no push and VAR should have intervened and advised the referee to go to the screen.”
Although Hackett did not mention it, replays of the incident even show that Yoro himself was being fouled as a defender tugged on the arm of his shirt.
The former refereeing boss asserted that had he gone to the screen, it is very probable that the goal would have been overturned.
It is one in a long list of injustices United fans have felt that their team has suffered this season at the hands of referees.
At the end of September, Bruno Fernandes was harshly sent off in the first half against Tottenham Hotspur that killed the game as a contest. The red was eventually overturned but it did not help the team in their 0-3 loss to the Lilywhites.
More recently, United felt extremely hard done by when Kai Havertz went down softly to win a penalty from the slightest of touches from Harry Maguire in the FA Cup tie earlier this month.
Luckily Altay Bayindir went on to save the penalty and United would win the contest but it is just another example of how Ruben Amorim’s side feel they have been unfairly treated this season when it has come to key refereeing decisions.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
