The FA have released another official statement on the Mbeumo and Cunha penalty incidents
Old Trafford woke up angry despite Manchester United’s dramatic 3–2 win over Fulham, as post-match attention shifted from the scoreline to a storm of officiating controversy. Reports suggest the FA stepped in after what many supporters described as another damaging VAR performance against United, prompting PGMOL to issue an unusually blunt apology for three major errors that almost derailed the result.
Although Benjamin Šeško’s stoppage-time winner sealed the points, the game was overshadowed by decisions that baffled players, fans and analysts alike. United were initially awarded a penalty after Matheus Cunha was brought down, only for VAR to downgrade it to a free-kick. Officials have since admitted the contact occurred on the line and the penalty should have stood. A first-half goal was also disallowed after VAR reportedly used the wrong Fulham defender to judge an offside call. Later, a clear foul on Amad Diallo inside the area went completely unpunished, an error now acknowledged as obvious.
The fallout has been fierce, with supporters highlighting a growing list of apologies that do nothing to change outcomes. Michael Carrick praised his team’s resilience but questioned why they must repeatedly overcome refereeing mistakes. Even Fulham’s defence of VAR has been undermined by the FA’s own findings. With officials now facing possible suspension, questions are growing about why United continue to be caught in the middle of these costly errors.
