Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has dropped his verdict on the handball incident involving Bryan Mbeumo in Manchester United’s 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Manchester United took the lead over Nottingham Forest in the first half through Luke Shaw and the Red Devils were 1-0 up at half-time at Old Trafford on Sunday.
However, Forest fought back against United in the second half and Morato cancelled out Luke Shaw’s first-half opener only seven minutes after the break.
Forest’s equaliser was short-lived after Matheus Cunha netted two minutes later for United, but Bryan Mbeumo was amid controversy during the build-up to the effort.
Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko become second ever PL trio to score 10+ goals in debut season🔥
What an incredible achievement, how many goals should they each be aiming for in 2026/27?
Dermot Gallagher’s feelings on Bryan Mbeumo are clear after the Man Utd star was accused of handball
VAR intervened after Matheus Cunha scored and summoned Premier League referee Michael Salisbury to review the footage around a handball against Bryan Mbeumo.
Michael Salisbury stuck by the initial decision that he made on the pitch and allowed United to take the lead over Nottingham Forest instead of pulling back the play.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher felt that Salisbury made the wrong call and should have listened to VAR’s verdict around Mbeumo in the incident.
“I think it should be disallowed,” he said.
“It should be handball. I think Michael gets seduced by this directive that if it comes off your body and strikes your arm, it’s accidental, carry on. I think if your arm is out there.
“I get it, hits his hip, strikes his arm. It does strike his thigh, no doubt about that. He almost cushions the ball. It creates that opportunity.”
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Dermot Gallagher on the position of VAR over the key Man Utd vs Nottingham Forest moment in the match at Old Trafford
Forest were furious with the decision made by Michael Salisbury and the Red Devils extended their lead to 3-1 after Mbeumo netted in the 75th minute of the match.
Gallagher added that VAR must have seen a visible sign of handball to have summoned Salisbury over to the pitchside monitor at Old Trafford in the first place.
“If you listen to VAR, it’s clear, I think it’s a handball offence,” he continued.
“I think he’s controlled it with his hand; he sends him to the screen, he does everything he can do, then it’s Michael Salisbury’s choice.
“VAR’s Matt Donohue has done everything to say, ‘Look here’s your opportunity to have a look,’ but he [Salisbury] had a look and said no.”
Man Utd’s Premier League win at the weekend has ensured that the Red Devils will sign off their 2025-26 campaign in third place in the table.
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