MANCHESTER UNITED were fed an “absolute nonsense” explanation as to why Nathan Collins escaped a red card on Saturday, according to ex-Premier League ref Mark Halsey.
Collins got away with a yellow after pulling back Bryan Mbeumo in the box as the deepest Brentford defender.
VAR reviewed Craig Pawson’s decision and stuck with it, leaving United up against eleven men.
The Premier League Match Centre explained the decision on social media.
A post read: “The referee’s call of penalty was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Collins deemed to pulled Mbeumo back.
“VAR also checked the referee’s call of yellow card to Collins – and deemed that Mbeumo wasn’t in control of the ball.”
Bruno Fernandes then fluffed the penalty, and Halsey reckons the official explanation will only have rubbed more salt into United’s wounds.
He said: “The statement from the Match Centre said that Mbeumo did not have control of the ball.
“It doesn’t say in law about having the ball under control.
“It’s about the likelihood of keeping control of the ball.
“In my opinion, the Match Centre statement was absolute nonsense and it was a clear, clear denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
“Manchester United will be very disappointed with that decision.
“A red card should have been shown to the Brentford player.”
Brentford were 2-1 up at the time of the spot kick, thanks to a brace from Igor Thiago.
Benjamin Sesko had netted his first in United colours to cut the deficit by half.
However, United were unable to recover from the penalty miss as the Bees claimed victory.
Mark Halsey on Chalobah red card
TREVOH CHALOBAH was rightly sent off after a VAR review during Chelsea’s 3-1 loss to Brighton at Stamford Bridge.
Referee Simon Hooper did not originally give a foul for the Chelsea defender’s challenge on Brighton’s Diego Gomez.
But VAR Darren England bailed him out by recommending a review and Hooper got it right in the end.
Chalobah made an attempt to play the ball but he was sent off because he denied Gomez an obvious goalscoring opportunity on the edge of the area.
If the offence had occurred inside the box, then it would have been a penalty but only a yellow card.
Brighton were denied a clear penalty for a reckless challenge at head height by Malo Gusto on Yankuba Minteh when it was still 1-1.
The Match Centre said there was ‘no conclusive evidence’ that Gusto made contact but he clearly caught Minteh in the head. Fortunately, that decision did not cost Brighton.
Keith Andrews’ side made sure of the three points as Mathias Jensen powered home a third in the closing stages.
The defeat has left the Red Devils rotting in 14th place – just a spot above their 15th-placed finish last term.
Pressure is mounting on manager Ruben Amorim but he is not feeling worried about his future.
He told Match of the Day: “I am never concerned about my job – I am not that kind of guy.
“It is not my decision. I will do the best I can every minute I am here.”
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