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20th January 2025
03:15pm GMT
Thankfully for Brighton a controversial decision from VAR did not matter in their Premier League clash with Man United on Sunday, as they ran out 3-1 winners.
At the time of Joao Pedro's disallowed finish, the sides were level at 1-1, after goals from Yankuba Mentah and Bruno Fernandes.
On 53 minutes, there was a scramble in the Man United box after a free-kick, before Pedro produced a magnificent turn before slotting past Andre Onana. On first viewing it looked a fair goal, with no obvious infringements.
However, it went upstairs to VAR, and it was decided by referee Peter Bankeds that Jan Paul van Hecke had clipped Diogo Dalot in the build-up.
A statement from the Premier League Match Centre said:
The referee’s call of goal was checked by VAR, who deemed there was a foul by van Hecke on Dalot in the build-up and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and the goal was disallowed.
However soft the challenge was, Dalot was clipped, leaving Banked with little choice after VAR had become involved.
None the less, on lookers were not pleased with the decision.
Pundit Richard Keys said: "They’re having a laugh. What a disgrace disallowing that Brighton goal. Absolute joke. Scandlous."
Another wrote on X: "I have no idea why Brighton’s goal got disallowed then other than the fact of who it’s against and where the match is being played"
After the game, a stunned Man United manager, Ruben Amorim, said: "In 10 games in the Premier League, we won two.
"Imagine what this is for a fan of Manchester United. Imagine what this is for me. So we are getting a new coach that is losing more than the last coach. I have full knowledge of that.
"Like I said, I'm not going to change, no matter what. I know we can succeed, but we need to survive this moment. Because I'm not naive and I know that we need to survive now.
"We are being the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United. I know that you want headlines, but I'm saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change that. Here you go, your headlines."
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