PGMOL admits Man United goal error

Manchester United’s 3-2 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford has been followed by an admission from the referees’ body that a decisive goal should not have counted. PGMOL said Manchester United’s second goal, scored by Matheus Cunha in the second half, ought to have been ruled out because of a handball by Bryan Mbeumo in the buildup. Referee Michael Salisbury reviewed the incident after a VAR recommendation but kept his original on-field decision. Sky Sports and other outlets reported on May 18 that PGMOL later contacted Nottingham Forest to acknowledge the error. ### Which goal did PGMOL say was wrong? Matheus Cunha’s second-half goal was the incident at the center of the review. The strike put Manchester United 2-1 ahead in a match they went on to win 3-2. Replays showed the ball striking Bryan Mbeumo’s arm before Cunha collected the loose ball and scored past Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels. (skysports.com) The Professional Game Match Officials body later concluded the goal should not have stood. Reports said PGMOL informed Nottingham Forest that the handball in the buildup meant the goal should have been disallowed. ### Why was the goal allowed during the match? (skysports.com) Michael Salisbury initially awarded the goal on the field and was then sent to the pitch-side monitor by the video assistant referee. After reviewing the footage, Salisbury chose to stick with his original decision and allowed the goal to stand. Sky Sports said PGMOL later judged that call to be wrong. (skysports.com) The Premier League Match Centre had said during the match that Salisbury viewed the contact as accidental, according to reports summarizing the explanation issued at the time. Subsequent coverage said that interpretation was not accepted by PGMOL after its review. (skysports.com) ### Who contacted Nottingham Forest after the game? Howard Webb, PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer, contacted Nottingham Forest to acknowledge the mistake, according to multiple reports. The Guardian said Webb told Forest that the Mbeumo handball decision had been wrong, while other reports described the contact as a formal apology from the refereeing body. (sportsmole.co.uk) Nottingham Forest also sought more clarity on the application of the handball rule. One report quoted Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo saying managers had doubts about such decisions and needed to understand the rules better. ### Why did the decision draw such a strong reaction? Nottingham Forest supporters reacted because the goal altered the score in a one-goal defeat. (theguardian.com) Reports said fans called on PGMOL to take action against Salisbury after the refereeing body admitted the mistake. Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports during the review, was also shown reacting with disbelief as the goal was allowed to stand. (aol.com) The incident quickly became the main talking point from the match, overtaking the result itself in post-match coverage. (101greatgoals.com) ### What happens next in cases like this? PGMOL’s admission does not change the 3-2 result. The organization’s next step in such cases is internal review rather than a replay or points adjustment, and the public record in this case is the acknowledgment to Nottingham Forest that the goal should have been disallowed. (skysports.com) May 18 is the key date in the aftermath because that is when Sky Sports and other outlets reported PGMOL’s acknowledgment to Forest. Any further scrutiny of Michael Salisbury or the VAR process would come through PGMOL’s internal refereeing review procedures rather than through a change to the match score. (skysports.com)