MANCHESTER UNITED were left fuming after Callum Hudson-Odoi appeared to handle the ball in Chelsea’s penalty area.
Referee Stuart Atwell decided NOT to award the spot-kick after a lengthy check on the VAR touchline monitor in Sunday’s 0-0 bore draw.
Man Utd were denied a penalty despite an apparent handball in the Chelsea box by Callum Hudson-OdoiCredit: Getty – Pool
The incident happened around 15 minutes into the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.
Man Utd striker Marcus Rashford fired off a ferocious free-kick at Chelsea goalie Edouard Mendy, who parried it into the air and over to the right of his box.
Hudson-Odoi and Mason Greenwood both challenged for the ball, which took a bounce as both players raised their arms.
Play continued as VAR decided to check the incident, with ref Atwell eventually stopping play to go to the TV monitor.
Both sets of players berated the official as he checked the incident from various angles.
Indeed, replays suggested the ball took a definite touch off Hudson-Odoi’s hand, which was being raised upwards during the incident.
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was adamant a penalty would be awarded.
But the ref left United gobsmacked as he instead dismissed the claims and restarted the game with a free-kick for the visitors in their own half.
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The handball incident caused a stir on social media, with the vast majority convinced United should have been awarded a penalty.
Gary Lineker tweeted: “I hate the current handball law but under the present guidelines that’s a penalty.”
He added: “No different really to the Ndidi handball penalty in the earlier game (Leicester vs Arsenal).
“Completely inadvertent but the arm/hand is raised when contact occurs.”
Sam Homewood noted: “Match officials, the VAR team, the players, the managers, the fans – none of us know the handball rules anymore.”
The penalty decision proved decisive though, with the game ending 0-0.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
