Aniket Rai
VAR did not review the disallowed Anthony Martial goal against Sheffield United
Speaking on BT Sport at half-time (h/t Manchester Evening News), former referee Peter Walton revealed that VAR did not review the disallowed Anthony Martial goal against Sheffield United because the whistle had already gone.
Manchester United took on bottom-placed Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday night. The Red Devils spurned the chance to go top of the league as they lost 2-1 to the Blades.
Sheffield United scored early on with a corner-kick. However, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand thinks that their opener should not have stood because Billy Sharp fouled David de Gea in the build-up.
“I think he was impeded. He’s got his hands on the back of De Gea, both hands on the back, he moves him out of the way. I think it’s a foul.”
A similar incident happened just a few minutes later as Harry Maguire engaged in an aerial battle with Aaron Ramsdale. The goalkeeper dropped the ball and Anthony Martial scored.
Playing to the whistle
However, the goal was ruled out for a foul by the United captain. Fans wondered why VAR did not intervene here, and Walton gave the reason behind it.
“The referee has blown his whistle before the ball has gone in the net, so VAR couldn’t look at it because the VAR would then be adjudicating on a foul and not a goal.”
Walton believes that there was a foul on Ramsdale by the former Leicester City man. Nevertheless, it did not come down to the 4th official as the whistle had gone before the ball crossed the goal line.
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United are now a point behind rivals Manchester City in the table, with the Citizens having a game in hand.
