Manchester United’s first Premier League game of the season ended in controversy after a big penalty shout was waved away during their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.
The talking point came late in the match when Matheus Cunha went down inside the box under pressure from Arsenal’s William Saliba. United fans screamed for a penalty, but referee Simon Hooper was not convinced.
Replays clearly showed contact between Saliba and Cunha. The Brazilian striker latched onto a clever pass from Matthijs de Ligt but failed to control it before colliding with the French defender. Still, the referee waved play on.
Many supporters believed it was a stonewall penalty. Their anger grew even more when VAR decided not to intervene. On Monday, the debate continued on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, where former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher explained the decision.
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Gallagher defended the referee. He admitted there was contact but insisted it was not enough for a foul. “I wasn’t convinced it was a penalty,” Gallagher said. “But if it is going to be a penalty, it’s one for the referee to give, not one for VAR.”
This comment sparked heated reactions from both fans and pundits. Former striker Jay Bothroyd, who appeared alongside Gallagher, strongly disagreed.
“How’s that not a penalty? That’s a guaranteed penalty,” Bothroyd argued. “If that happens on the halfway line, it’s a free-kick. So why is it not a penalty inside the box?”
Gallagher pushed back. “It wasn’t on the halfway line. I don’t play that game,” he said.
Bothroyd pressed again, insisting the rules should be applied the same way across the pitch. “A free-kick on the halfway line should be the same as in the box,” he said.
At this point, Gallagher conceded slightly: “I agree on that. No, not a foul.”
But Bothroyd wasn’t done. He described the incident in detail: “That’s definitely a foul. He came through the back of him. The ball was there, he hit his planted foot. That’s a penalty.”
Gallagher stood firm in his final verdict. “You judge what happens and at that point, I don’t think it’s a foul. I wouldn’t give it anywhere else on the pitch either.”
The debate highlights once again how confusing Premier League refereeing decisions can be, especially when VAR is involved. Fans are left wondering why some similar incidents are penalized while others are ignored.
United supporters took to social media to vent their frustration. Many claimed it was a “clear and obvious error” and that VAR failed them. Others compared it to penalties given in other matches for softer contact.
This isn’t the first time Manchester United have felt hard done by against Arsenal. Previous meetings between the two clubs have also seen refereeing drama dominate the headlines.
The defeat leaves United starting the season on the back foot, with fans questioning both the referee’s decision-making and VAR’s role in the game.
Cunha himself has not spoken much about the incident, but his body language after the challenge said it all, he believed he had been fouled.
Arsenal fans, however, were quick to defend Saliba. Many claimed Cunha went down too easily and that it was not enough to justify a spot-kick.
Whatever side of the debate you fall on, one thing is clear: the VAR controversy is not going away anytime soon. Every season, we see the same debates, and this game is now another entry in the long list of VAR drama.
The Premier League promised clarity and consistency when VAR was introduced. But as this incident shows, the technology is only as good as the people interpreting it.
With United already under pressure to deliver this season, fans will be hoping refereeing decisions do not cost them crucial points in the coming weeks.
The next few games will be vital for Ruben Amorim’s side, but the Arsenal clash will be remembered not just for the result, but for the penalty that never was.
