Ex-referee Dermot Gallagher gives verdict on two penalty incidents in Manchester United v Crystal Palace game

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Manchester United and Crystal Palace both had appeals for penalties during the weekend clash at Old Trafford.

If there is one thing we have learned from watching the Premier League this season, it is that nobody knows what a handball is. And that applies to referees too.

There has been way too much inconsistency, with Manchester United on the wrong end of a few decisions.

At the weekend, Manchester United fans felt there were calls for a penalty when the ball struck Joel Ward’s arm.

READ: 8 worst VAR decisions involving Manchester United of all time in Premier League games

Dermot Gallagher verdict on penalty incidents

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was quizzed about the incident in Sky Sports News weekly Ref Watch segment.

He said: “I never ever thought this would be given. It strikes him, there’s no doubt about that, but his arm is tucked in. It’s just never going to be a penalty for me.”

It won’t be a surprise Gallagher is backing the referee’s call. He also did not think Manchester United should have had a penalty against Tottenham Hotspur last month, when Cristian Romero handled the ball from Alejandro Garnacho’s shot.

On the other hand, pardon the pun, Crystal Palace felt they should have had a penalty when the ball was kicked onto Sofyan Amrabat’s arm in the second half, inside the box.

Gallagher once again backed the referee’s decision not to award a spot-kick.

He said: “I’ve got to choose my words carefully on this one, this one does bounce on him, straight onto his arm. But, his arm is by his side. It’s never going to be given.”

Referring back to the Garnacho shot, Romero’s arm was not by side.

United shouldn’t have been relying on penalty call

We can moan about the call for a penalty against Palace, but really, we should not be relying on that at Old Trafford.

Manchester United should be beating teams by two or three goals in these home games, and should not need the intervention of a referee.

That is partly why there has been so much spotlight on referee decisions this season, because Manchester United have needed them, and in tight games, these calls have made the difference.

United have scored only seven goals in seven Premier League games this season, while conceding 11.