[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMO) has admitted that Manchester United’s second goal in the clash against Nottingham Forest should have been ruled out. Before Matheus Cunha scored, the ball struck Bryan Mbeumo’s arm. The on-field referee reviewed the footage on the sideline and ultimately awarded the goal, with Manchester United sealing a 3-2 victory in the end. PGMO chief Howard Webb held talks with both Nottingham Forest and Manchester United on local time Monday and acknowledged the refereeing error. The match official body maintains regular communication with all clubs to keep positive dialogue over refereeing issues. After taking feedback from clubs, players, coaches and fans, English football has tended to adopt a more lenient approach when enforcing handball rules.
The editor believes that the widely expected verdict was to confirm that Bryan Mbeumo handled the ball illegally, which is why PGMO has now admitted the mistake. The on-field explanation given during the Premier League fixture was that the referee announced: “After video review, the goal stands. It was an accidental handball, so the final decision is to award the goal.”