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Premier League explain Man Utd handball decision Gary Neville labelled 'ridiculous'
May 17 2026 14:10 · By Phil Haigh · 185 Reads
Referee Michael Salisbury controversially let Matheus Cunha’s goal stand (Picture: Getty Images)
The Premier League Match Centre has issued a statement on the controversial handball decision at Old Trafford , which Gary Neville labelled ‘ridiculous’.
Matheus Cunha scored Manchester United’s second goal of the game against Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon, but most expected it to be ruled out.
A cross reached Bryan Mbeumo , bobbled up and hit his arm before the Cameroonian forward got a shot off.
That was blocked and the ball fell to Cunha, who scored but VAR quickly reviewed the situation and sent referee Michael Salisbury to the screen to review the decision.
Surprisingly, he let the goal stand, confirming that he saw Mbeumo’s handball as accidental. The Red Devils went on to win the game 3-2 and the Premier League Match Centre released an explanation as to why the controversial goal stood.
A post on X read: ‘After VAR review, the referee stuck with the original decision to award a goal to Manchester United .
‘Referee announcement: “After review, the decision of goal stands because the handball offence is accidental, therefore the final decision is goal.”’
"I think that's an absolute shocker in every single way!"Gary Neville reacts to the referee overruling VAR to allow Cunha's goal to stand. pic.twitter.com/aulQv1eKt0 — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 17, 2026
Matheus Cunha scores Manchester United's second at Old Trafford! pic.twitter.com/aQhMuj4LCr — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 17, 2026
It was an unusual situation as it is not often VAR sends the referee to the screen and the ref chooses not to overturn the original decision.
Neville could not believe what he saw, believing it was clearly a handball that should have seen the goal chalked off.
‘Honestly, that is ridiculous,’ the former Manchester United defender said on Sky Sports . ‘The VAR has been clear: the player has handballed it.
Nottingham Forest players were baffled by the decision (Picture: Getty Images)
‘He looked at it for three minutes and the referee has looked at it for another minute. I can’t believe what I have just seen. That was handball. I don’t know what to say.