India’s Semi-Final Hopes Revived After Australia’s Win Over New Zealand
Manchester United out of the FA Cup amidst controversial handball
Manchester United faced Championship side Middlesbrough in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday at Old Trafford as the international break ended after almost two weeks. It was a sad return to club football for the home team as they got beat 7-8 on penalties after the game ended as a 1-1 draw after extra time.
The Red Devils saw the return of their midfielder Paul Pogba who came back after a long time out with a thigh injury. United started the game on the front foot but wasn’t able to capitalize on the chances they created. However, United’s summer signing Jadon Sancho came back to the first team with a bang and scored a good goal in the 25th Minute. However, United conceded a controversial equalizer in the second half after Duncan Watmore clearly handled the ball in the penalty area and squared it to Middlesbrough midfielder Matt Crooks who slid the ball into the net to make it 1-1 in the 64th minute.
Referee Anthony Taylor was surrounded by all the United players after he awarded the goal to the away team. He had to do so because of the change in the current handball rules which states that a player cannot be penalized for an accidental handball preceding a goal unless he scores the goal himself. The player’s arm position didn’t seem to be in a deliberate handball situation according to the referees. The United fans and the coaching staff were furious with the decision as they had to bow out of their only realistic hope of winning some silverware this season seems to have gone with this defeat.
Manager Ralf Rangnick also expressed his disappointment on this decision by saying “How can it be accidental if he controls the ball up in the air with his hand? It was clear it should not stand but in the end, I was really surprised it stood.”
Middlesbrough manager Chris Woods also shared his views after the match and said “We rode our luck and took our chances. The decisions that are made through VAR have changed since I left the Premier League – I thought straight away it was handball. I thought it would be chalked out and delighted it wasn’t”
Social Media blew up with people amazed at how the goal was allowed to stand. The man who was in the middle of this chaos, Duncan Watmore also gave his view and said “It was completely accidental the handball. Amazing to make a difference and set up Crooksy. Me and Crooksy were in a United age group team together here – so it is even more special.”
