Ex-ref chief: VAR ‘correct’ to intervene in Man United vs Nottingham Forest controversy

VAR was “correct” in its initial assessment that Matheus Cunha’s goal shouldn’t have been allowed to stand as Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 on Sunday.

That is the view of ex-FIFA referee and former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett, who has exclusively told Football Insider that Bryan Mbeumo “effectively controlled the ball” with his arm in the build-up to the goal.

Luke Shaw’s early strike saw United hit the front in the opening stages, before Morato and Cunha exchanged goals shortly after half-time, with the latter awarded after a lengthy VAR review.

Mbeumo then extended the hosts’ lead, before Morgan Gibbs-White scored what ultimately proved to be little more than a consolation in the 78th minute.

Forest were seething with Salisbury after he gave Cunha’s goal in controversial circumstances, and the official has now been criticised further for the call that he made.

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Mbeumo’s involvement in Cunha’s strike was the moment in question, as the Cameroon international appeared to control a cross with the aid of his arm.

The striker gathered the ball with a combination of his hip and his arm before laying the ball off for Cunha, who coolly slotted into the bottom corner.

VAR sent Salisbury to the monitor after suggesting that the goal should be ruled out, but the man in the middle chose to stand by his original decision, as he deemed the use of the arm by Mbeumo to be accidental.

Hackett has questioned the official’s decision, as he also called for the handball law to be changed, following yet another controversial incident this season.

“We have two officials with a different view on this incident, which highlights that the handball law needs to be changed in an effort to take out the subjectivity,” the former official told Football Insider.

“On viewing all angles of the incident, I am satisfied that VAR was correct to intervene and that should have resulted in the goal being ruled out.

Matheus Cunha scores Manchester United's second at Old Trafford! pic.twitter.com/aQhMuj4LCr

“The ball hits the underside of the arm and the body and is trapped for a few seconds, effectively Mbeumo has controlled it with his arm. This goal should have been ruled out.”

Forest turned in a disappointing display against United on Sunday, but they were evidently frustrated with the way that their hosts’ second goal was allowed to stand.

Pereira and his players protested the decision, which saw them left trailing the game again within minutes of getting back on level terms through Morato.

After VAR review, the referee stuck with the original decision to award a goal to Manchester United.

Referee announcement: “After review, the decision of goal stands because the handball offence is accidental, therefore the final decision is goal.”

The Premier League have now issued a statement via their Match Centre account on X, which has reiterated the fact that the goal was allowed to stand because the handling offence was deemed to be accidental.

Forest will unsurprisingly be left feeling aggrieved at the outcome of that VAR review because, as Hackett suggested, the law allows for plenty of subjectivity.

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