Dermot Gallagher asked about VAR’s decision for Man Utd vs Sunderland penalty call, ex-referee’s verdict is clear-cut

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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has now reacted to VAR’s involvement in Manchester United’s 2-0 Premier League win over Sunderland.

Manchester United took control of the Premier League tie at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon thanks to both Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko.

Mason Mount fired United into a 1-0 lead over Sunderland in the opening 10 minutes before Benjamin Sesko found the back of the net in his second consecutive match.

However, Sunderland thought they had been handed a potential lifeline before VAR became involved in a potential penalty decision against United on the weekend.

Sesko’s challenge on Trai Hume in the United box led to a penalty being awarded to Sunderland after referee Stuart Atwell consulted with the linesman over the incident.

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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher reacts to the Man Utd vs Sunderland penalty incident at Old Trafford

Stuart Atwell was summoned to the pitchside monitor to review the incident again and to see whether Benjamin Sesko’s knee caught Trai Hume in the head or chest.

Following the VAR review before half-time at Old Trafford, Premier League referee Atwell overturned the on-field decision and Sunderland’s penalty was ruled out.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher has suggested that VAR intervened at the “right” time and the correct “decision” was made in the match.

“It’s the right decision in the end,” he said.

“The referee didn’t give it and the assistant thinks he caught him. When he looks at the monitor, he makes the right decision. No penalty.”

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Dermot Gallagher on VAR and the confusion between referee Stuart Atwell and the linesman over the Man Utd vs Sunderland penalty call

Atwell did not initially award a penalty to Sunderland after Sesko’s high-knee challenge, but the linesman did wave for a foul and a spot-kick decision was awarded on the day.

The penalty debacle in United’s 2-0 Premier League win over Sunderland dragged on with the VAR intervention during first-half injury-time at Old Trafford.

Gallagher has now claimed that it was a positive “thing” that VAR was active for the match and felt the linesman’s decision was based on the “angle” it was seen from.

“The good thing is, the VAR was there,” he continued.

“The referee did not give it; the assistant had a different angle. The ball has caught him in the face, that is what has hit him.”

United climbed to 10th place in the Premier League table after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Sunderland, with the Red Devils now returning to action vs Liverpool on 19th October.