The Red Devils saw VAR frustrate them in a meeting with Crystal Palace, with technology seeing a spot-kick awarded and taken for a second time
Manchester United legend Gary Neville was among those left baffled by the penalty drama in the Red Devils’ Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, with the decision to award and then call for a spot-kick to be re-taken branded an “absolute disgrace”.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side saw Victor Lindelof punished for a second-half handball, before then seeing VAR intervene again as David de Gea was accused of straying off his line before saving from Jordan Ayew.
Neville said on Sky Sports: “Absolute disgrace. What is he? Two inches? You’re talking millimetres. That’s unbelievable. I understand if the goalkeeper is flying off his line gaining two yards but that is…”
The former United defender was not convinced that the penalty should have been awarded in the first place, with Lindelof having little time to react when the ball was scooped in the direction of his arm by Ayew.
Play continued after that incident, with referee Martin Atkinson subsequently called upon to check the touchline monitor.
He determined that Lindelof was in the wrong, allowing Ayew to step up from 12 yards.
His tame effort was beaten away by De Gea – the first time the Spaniard had kept out a spot-kick since facing Everton in the FA Cup back in April 2016 – but VAR was not done there and United faced further frustration when De Gea was pulled up.
Wilfried Zaha stepped up second time around and crashed the ball into the back of the net against his former club.
Premier League rules dictate: “The protocol for goalkeeper encroachment on penalties does not allow for tolerance levels, so if the ‘keeper saves a penalty and his foot is over the line then VAR advises it is retaken.”
While the regulations are clear, Neville is not the only one to have questioned them.
Bemused supporters and former players took to social media in the wake of the incident to air their frustration, with Gary Lineker saying the “game’s gone”.
Good heavens. Game’s gone.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 19, 2020
The only penalty that David de Gea manages to save in about 5 years had to be retaken I actually can’t believe it.
— Ryan. 🔴 (@Vintage_Utd) September 19, 2020
De Gea saves the pen! And VAR takes it away from him.
They are destroying our game….
— Jan Aage Fjortoft 🏳️🌈 🇳🇴 (@JanAageFjortoft) September 19, 2020
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