Overview
- England’s referees’ body acknowledged the call was wrong and chief Howard Webb contacted Manchester United and Nottingham Forest to accept a misjudgement.
- In the second half at Old Trafford, the video assistant referee Matthew Donohue sent Michael Salisbury to the pitchside monitor for a possible Bryan Mbeumo handball before Matheus Cunha scored, but Salisbury ruled the contact accidental and let the goal stand.
- The allowed goal put United 2-1 ahead in a match they won 3-2, with Forest players and staff protesting the decision on the field.
- A 2021 law update says accidental handball that leads to a team‑mate scoring is not an offence, a clause Salisbury cited that has caused confusion over how to apply the rule.
- Pundits including Gary Neville and former referee Dermot Gallagher said the goal should have been disallowed, and Forest coach Vitor Pereira called for a meeting with PGMOL to set clearer guidance on handball and VAR procedures.