Despite dominating proceedings, Manchester United will return to Old Trafford with only a draw to show for their efforts after their Europa League Round of 16 first-leg tie against Real Sociedad ended 1-1 on Thursday.
It was the visitors who took the lead at the Reale Arena through Joshua Zirkzee and Ruben Amorim’s team should have scored a few more given the chances they created.
Alejandro Garnacho was guilty of spurning several great chances and in the end, the Red Devils were made to pay as the referee awarded a dubious penalty to the home side.
United cleared the ball from a corner and none of the Real Sociedad players protested, and the referee kept playing on as he obviously saw nothing wrong.
VAR and referee hurt United
But VAR, who are supposed to let the game flow and intervene only when the referee needs help tried to find for an infringement on their own and called the referee over to check the monitor.
It was deemed that the header from a Real Sociedad player hit Bruno Fernandes’ hand when he was jumping for the same ball. His arms were not in an unnatural position and usually, players jump in that manner during set-pieces.
Yet the new UEFA handball law states if the ball hits the arm inside the box, it is a penalty and the decision was as soft and harsh as it can get.
Former United academy star and Wales international Robbie Savage slammed the rule on TNT Sports after the decision was awarded.
“The rule is ridiculous. On that angle there, the arm does stop him [Real Sociedad attacker] heading it because the arm is an unnatural position.
Harsh decision
“It is harsh though because that is how you jump but the arm has stopped the player heading the ball so, by the letter of the law and the way the rule is, it is a penalty even though it is harsh.”
Savage was also quick to point out that the current handball rule must be re-evaluated by UEFA and other football authorities.
Paul Scholes was also stunned by the initial decision and termed it a “strange” one. “‘I didn’t know why the game had stopped,” was how he reacted initially.
Amorim will hope to get more players fit for the second leg. Hopefully, the 20-time English league champions can get over this disappointment and the job done at Old Trafford.
Feature image Juan Manuel Serrano Arce via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
