Manchester United Faces Controversial No-Call in Match Against Sunderland
Manchester United encountered another contentious red card situation during their match against newly-promoted Sunderland, which both the referee and VAR decided to overlook.
The incident occurred at the Stadium of Light, leaving United feeling wronged for not receiving a reprimand. In the final moments of the match, Sunderland’s Nilson Angulo struck United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, in the head with his elbow.
Referee Stuart Attwell did not perceive any wrongdoing in the challenge, despite Fernandes expressing his disbelief. VAR operator Peter Bankes also opted not to intervene, deeming it not a red card offense.
United’s head coach, Michael Carrick, commented on the incident in a post-match interview with MUTV, stating, “To be honest, I haven’t seen it on TV. Bruno said there was contact and wasn’t too happy about it when he came in. The staff weren’t too happy with it as well. I don’t know. I get a bit confused with what’s going on so I will stay out of that one.”
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean shared his thoughts on the incident while on Sky Sports, saying, “There’s not a lot of force in it, but I don’t understand why the player would run back and put his arm in and just put himself at risk.
“I’m not sure what’s happening – they’ve obviously had a look at it; they’re not doing anything, they’ve just had a chat with Fernandes and check complete. You run the risk with VAR, that could have gone either way.
“I’m just annoyed about decisions in games where they’re just not making decisions. Fulham’s a prime example today. Just a poor performance on the pitch.”
This incident adds to a series of questionable calls against United, particularly involving Stuart Attwell, who previously denied United a penalty against Bournemouth when Amad Diallo was fouled in March.
The ongoing VAR debate continues to overshadow discussions following the match, especially given United’s lackluster performance. In addition, Bruno Fernandes seeks two assists in the remaining two Premier League games to set a new record for the most assists in a single season.