In a stunning twist following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, a match official has come forward with shocking claims about a controversial penalty decision that has stirred massive debate. The referee revealed that he was explicitly instructed not to award Manchester United a penalty, an order that has now placed him at the center of a firestorm. According to him, he initially made the decision to point to the spot but was overruled. Frustrated, he insisted the blame lies with whoever issued the directive, not him, declaring that United were unfairly denied and that he’s now being scapegoated for a situation he had little control over. He described the entire episode as chaotic and deeply unjust.
The incident causing all the uproar involved Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams, who lunged at United’s Alejandro Garnacho with both feet off the ground. Although the tackle was reckless, referee Peter Bankes, with confirmation from VAR, opted to show only a yellow card. The Premier League later backed this decision through its official Match Centre account on X, which only fueled anger among Manchester United supporters who believed Adams deserved a red card.
The controversy didn’t stop there. Fans’ frustrations were further inflamed when two separate penalty appeals involving Harry Maguire were also turned down without any intervention from VAR. Despite all the drama, Manchester United managed to scrape a point from the match thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Rasmus Højlund.
This latest controversy adds to a growing list of questionable calls against Manchester United this season. One glaring example remains fresh in fans’ minds: during their clash with West Ham United, a late penalty awarded against Matthijs de Ligt after a tangle with Danny Ings cost United the game. That decision was later admitted to be a mistake by PGMOL boss Howard Webb.
With the season entering its final stretch, Manchester United not only faces challenges on the pitch but also battles growing concerns over the integrity of officiating in their matches. Fans, players, and club officials are now demanding greater accountability and transparency in refereeing decisions to preserve the fairness of the competition.
The fact that a match official is openly admitting he was ordered not to give United a penalty is explosive. It goes beyond incompetence and suggests possible systematic interference — something that would strike at the very heart of football’s credibility. Referees are supposed to have the final say, with VAR acting as a tool to advise, not override them. Any external influence on such decisions would violate fundamental principles established by FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League itself.
This isn’t just about a missed call anymore. If the referee’s claims hold weight, it could trigger a full-scale investigation by football’s governing bodies, potentially leading to resignations and major reforms, especially within PGMOL. Manchester United would have every right to demand the release of the VAR communications from the match and push for urgent changes to ensure the integrity of the sport is protected.
What began as a controversial draw could soon explode into one of the biggest refereeing scandals English football has seen in years.
