There was plenty of controversy during Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Everton in the Premier League.
Ruben Amorim was seething on the sidelines as his Manchester United side failed to produce a response against Everton.
After a terrible first 45 minutes, Amorim’s rousing half-time team talk inspired the Red Devils to bounce back with goals from Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte clawing the scoreline back to 2-2.
United pushed on for a winner with Chido Obi making his Premier League debut off the bench to try and steal all three points. However, it looked as though Everton were going to steal it late on when referee Andy Madley pointed to the spot.
Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire were involved in an incident with former United captain Ashley Young. Despite Madley awarding the penalty, United were let off the hook by VAR.
Maguire and Young clashed after the full-time whistle, while Amorim disagreed with David Moyes about the decision.
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer agree on Man United penalty decision
The VAR call made in injury time has caused plenty of controversy. Young quoted Jose Mourinho after the game on social media, insisting he would “prefer not to speak” about the decision.
Some pundits agreed it wasn’t a penalty, but Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker insist United got away with one.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Rest is Football, Lineker said: “If the referee hadn’t given it, you could understand them not turning it over.
“But the fact they did give a penalty, to then have it turned over – it went against what they’ve been saying this season.”
Shearer agreed with his co-host, adding: “Yeah absolutely, they said to us they’re not going to re-referee. They said it would be a high bar, yet all that went out the window.
“The thing that puzzled us, and my analysis, was that when they sent the referee to the screen, they didn’t show him all the angles.
“How can that happen?
“You’re saying to a referee ‘mate, I think you’ve got this one really wrong’ yet you don’t show him all the angles.”
Ruben Amorim’s honesty over VAR decisions
Amorim was furious with United’s performance against Everton, especially in the first half. But interestingly he stood firm on the penalty decision being correct.
It might sound obvious that Amorim would defend calls in United’s favour, but that hasn’t always been the case.
Amorim admitted United were lucky with VAR against Leicester City in the FA Cup after Harry Maguire’s late goal was allowed to stand.
However, the Portuguese coach has definitely not had every decision go his way. VAR was criticised for impacting United’s loss to Brighton in January, yet Amorim refused to use it as an excuse for his side’s poor display.
READ MORE: New VAR changes confirmed for FA Cup after Harry Maguire controversy for Man United
There was also the controversial Matthijs de Ligt penalty awarded against United in Liverpool’s favour – without that decision the Red Devils likely would have taken all three points.
As is always the case with referees and VAR – it’s swings and roundabouts.
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