Solskjaer hits out at “outside influences” on referees over Man Utd decisions

United were denied a penalty in the first half of their draw with Chelsea

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has suggested "outside influences" are having an impact on key refereeing decisions going against his side. United were denied a first-half penalty against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon when the ball appeared to hit Callum Hudson-Odoi's hand, despite referee Stuart Attwell being asked to review the call on a pitch-side monitor. Attwell allegedly told Harry Maguire he had not given it because of the controversy it would have caused. Speaking after the full-time whistle, Solskjaer was adamant the decision should have gone his side's way. Asked by Sky Sports' Geoff Shreeves what his understanding of what the referee had told his players after deciding not to award the penalty, he said:

"I can't say, because that's not going to be good for him." He later added: "It's not right, is it? You know, all these outside influences. Even the VAR before the game on Harry, that's cheeky when they put that on their website. That's influencing referees."

Asked by Shreeves to clarify his comments about the website, Solskjaer told Shreeves to go back and have a look for himself. "You can read it, what they're saying about all the controversy about Harry Maguire, putting pressure on referees to give penalties... Against us." Asked if this was a serious concern, the United boss contiued: "It wasn't Frank [Lampard], was it, that started it? There's loads of talk about us getting penalties when there is no doubt, whatsoever and today we should have a penalty. That's clear as it is." https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1366099672872411137 United's draw at Stamford Bridge maintains United's six-point gap ahead of Chelsea, keeping them second in the Premier League table behind Manchester City, who now look certain to win the title having extended their lead at the top with victory over West Ham on Saturday.

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