Manchester United plan to file a formal complaint to refereeing body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after being denied a penalty during Friday’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
United believed they should have been awarded a spot kick when Amad appeared to be brought down by Bournemouth defender Adrien Truffert in the second half of their Premier League fixture at the Vitality Stadium.
Michael Carrick’s side had taken the lead through a Bruno Fernandes penalty after Matheus Cunha was pulled back by Alex Jimenez. Eli Junior Kroupi levelled the scores for Bournemouth, again from the penalty spot, after Harry Maguire was penalised for a pull on Evanilson.
Sources briefed on the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, indicated United officials were unhappy with how a series of similar penalty incidents were treated inconsistently during Friday’s fixture and the club intends to formally complain to PGMOL.
With United leading 1-0, Amad cut inside and Truffert placed two arms on his shoulder, appearing to push him. Referee Stuart Attwell did not blow for a foul and Bournemouth won possession back, broke away and levelled the scores through Ryan Christie.
The decision was checked by video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson, and it was decided the contact was not “sufficient enough” for a foul.
United had opened the scoring through a Fernandes penalty on 61 minutes after Jimenez pulled Cunha back by the shirt. Speaking at full time, Carrick drew similarities between the two decisions and said he did not understand “how you can give one and not the other — it’s crazy”.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
“A big opportunity to go 2-0 up and we get one penalty and not the other,” Carrick said. “It’s exactly the same thing really — a two-handed grab.
“I think they’re both penalties and it’s a massive moment in the game and it ended up chaos after that. Massive moment and I don’t understand how you can give one and not the other — it’s crazy.
“It’s as obvious as you can get — you’ve already given one so to not give the other one. It’s clear, if that’s what he believes is a penalty to start with then the second one has to be. I don’t understand how you can’t give that.”
United re-took the lead with 19 minutes of normal time remaining as Bournemouth defender James Hill headed into his own net. However, Bournemouth levelled from the penalty spot in the 78th minute after Maguire was penalised for a foul on Evanilson.
Maguire placed his arm across the Bournemouth striker as he raced through on goal and the Manchester United defender was shown a straight red card for the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The decision was checked by VAR and Maguire’s action was deemed to be a “holding offence” with “no attempt to win the ball”.
The Athletic has contacted the PGMOL for comment.