Premier League Releases Statement Following Controversial VAR Decision in Manchester United vs Brighton Clash
Premier League Responds Following VAR Controversy in Manchester United vs Brighton Clash
Premier League Responds Following VAR Controversy in Manchester United vs Brighton Clash
The Premier League has released an official statement regarding the controversial VAR decision that saw Brighton’s goal ruled out during their away fixture against Manchester United.
Joao Pedro, who had previously scored the decisive goal in Brighton’s victory over United at the Amex Stadium earlier in the season, believed he had once again found the back of the net. However, his effort was disallowed after VAR intervened, citing a foul by Jan Paul van Hecke on Diogo Dalot in the build-up.
A post from the Premier League Match Centre clarified the decision: “The referee initially awarded the goal, but VAR reviewed the incident and determined that van Hecke had fouled Dalot. Following a recommended on-field review, the referee overturned the original decision, leading to the goal being disallowed.”
The decision sparked debate, with pundit Richard Keys strongly criticizing the call. “They’re joking, right?” Keys wrote on social media. “That decision to disallow Brighton’s goal is disgraceful. Absolute nonsense. Scandalous.”
More VAR Controversies in the Premier League
The disallowed goal came when the match was level at 1-1, with Yankuba Minteh initially putting Brighton ahead before Bruno Fernandes equalized from the penalty spot. Despite the setback, Brighton eventually restored their lead through Kaoru Mitoma, who assisted Minteh for his second goal of the match.
VAR intervention was not limited to Old Trafford, as Nottingham Forest’s Nikola Milenkovic also had a goal overturned for offside in their clash against Southampton.
Ruben Amorim’s Reaction
Manchester United entered the match following a dramatic late win over Southampton, where Amad Diallo netted a hat-trick in the final ten minutes. Reflecting on his team’s recent performances, United manager Ruben Amorim emphasized the importance of staying composed and helping his players improve.
“The best way to support the players is to remain calm and clearly communicate the necessary adjustments,” Amorim said. “Of course, we didn’t perform well in the first half against Southampton. Some players looked fatigued, and it’s my responsibility to manage that situation, sometimes by making substitutions. That’s my role.”
With growing scrutiny over VAR decisions and mounting frustrations among teams and pundits, debates about the consistency of officiating in the Premier League continue to dominate discussions.
