In a recent Premier League encounter that saw Tottenham secure a convincing 2-0 victory over Manchester United, one particular incident stood out: United’s denied penalty appeal.
Bruno Fernandes has publicly criticised the officials for their handling of the situation and has called for an apology to be issued to his team.
The turning point of the match came in the first half when United’s Alejandro Garnacho’s shot struck the outstretched arm of Tottenham defender Cristian Romero.
The incident was subsequently reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, but to the surprise and frustration of the United players and fans, no penalty was awarded.
Referee Michael Oliver waved play to continue, leaving Manchester United players incensed by what they perceived as a clear handball.
🚨🇵🇹 Bruno Fernandes on #mufc being denied a pen:
— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) August 20, 2023
"They made a big thing of it last week. I want to see if they make a show of it like they did last week, also if Jon Moss also comes to our dressing room to apologise." @stadiumastro pic.twitter.com/afKQhIZZB8
Bruno Fernandes didn’t hold back in expressing his dissatisfaction with the officials’ decision. The Portuguese midfielder referenced a similar incident from the previous week, where referees’ boss Jon Moss issued an apology to Wolves after they were denied a penalty against United.
In that case, Gary O’Neil was not given a spot-kick when Andre Onana fouled Sasa Kalajdzic. Fernandes openly questioned whether United would receive the same level of accountability and transparency in this instance.
Refereeing decisions have always been at the center of discussions in football. With the introduction of VAR, the scrutiny on officials’ calls has intensified. However, it’s important to acknowledge that the nature of the game is complex, and decisions are often made in real time, leaving little room for perfection. The speed and intensity of football make it challenging for referees to interpret every situation accurately, even with the aid of technology.
