{"id":897532,"date":"2026-04-16T07:55:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T07:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/897532\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T07:55:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T07:55:31","slug":"the-worst-decisions-given-against-manchester-united-by-referees-and-var-in-the-2025-26-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/897532\/","title":{"rendered":"The worst decisions given against Manchester United by referees and VAR in the 2025\/26 season"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\/ Add as preferred source on Google <\/a> <\/p>\n

Manchester United\u2019s 2025\/26 season has been blighted by refereeing mistakes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Manchester United look back at the league table<\/a> in 2025\/26<\/a>, there will be satisfaction at improvement on the previous year. But there will also be frustration the record is not a lot better.<\/p>\n

United have dropped too many points and drawn or lost games we should have won. In some cases this is down to missed chances. In other cases it has been down to the refereeing.<\/p>\n

Referee and VAR decisions going against United has been consistent all season, and it\u2019s not done yet.<\/p>\n

There have been a litany of clear errors going against United, from disallowed goals, to red cards, to moments that were missed.<\/p>\n

We have been looking back through the season and have compiled the \u2018worst of the worst\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n

\"ManchesterPhoto by Robbie Jay Barratt \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images Michael Carrick says opponents\u2019 WWE style corner tactics have gone TOO FAR \u2013 Do you agree? <\/p>\n

Is it time for referees to clamp down and start punishing teams?<\/p>\n

\"\"Getty Images Bayindir and Mount fouled for Arsenal winner as Cunha denied penalty<\/p>\n

Manchester United\u2019s opening day defeat to Arsenal set the tone. The Red Devils played well, but were undone by key decisions going in the Gunners\u2019 favour.<\/p>\n

The game turned on Riccardo Calafiori\u2019s goal from a corner, where William Saliba fouled both Mason Mount and Altay Bayindir to gain a clear advantage.<\/p>\n

Former referee Mark Clattenburg told United In Focus<\/a>: \u201cWhen you watch it in slow motion you can see Mason Mount was having his shirt pulled and Bayindir was being impeded while challenging for the ball.<\/p>\n

\u201cPGMOL said they would punish more this type of challenge, but again they failed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later in the game there was an appeal for a penalty when Matheus Cunha was fouled by Saliba at the other end. Referee Simon Hooper waved play on, with United denied the chance for an equaliser.<\/p>\n

\"NathanPhoto by Justin Setterfield\/Getty ImagesBrentford red card decision overturned after delay<\/p>\n

One of the most farcical decisions all season came after United were correctly awarded a penalty away at Brentford, when Nathan Collins fouled Bryan Mbeumo.<\/p>\n

Collins was the last man when he pulled Mbeumo back. Referee Craig Pawson consulted VAR for more than five minutes and decided to award only a yellow card.<\/p>\n

The delayed game contributed to Fernandes missing the penalty, which would have tied the score at 2-2.<\/p>\n

Instead of facing United at 2-2 with 10 men, Brentford played on with 11 and went on to score another goal to win 3-1.<\/p>\n

Clattenburg told United In Focus<\/a>: \u201cThis is why people are falling out of love with football when it takes VAR nearly 5 minutes to make a decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cNathan Collins should have been shown a red card for this last-man foul on Bryan Mbeumo.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce the decision was a penalty kick, then Collins made no genuine attempt to play the ball, so the only outcome should be a red card.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ManchesterPhoto by Simon Stacpoole\/Offside\/Offside via Getty ImagesWan-Bissaka escapes double booking vs United<\/p>\n

Forgotten this one? We haven\u2019t. Manchester United\u2019s dour 1-1 draw at home to West Ham saw former player Aaron Wan-Bissaka escape a red card.<\/p>\n

Wan-Bissaka had been booked minutes before scything down Patrick Dorgu, and managed to avoid a second booking.<\/p>\n

Clattenburg told United In Focus<\/a>: \u201cThe challenge was reckless and because he slides in from behind, this is a simple second yellow card and a one which should then have been punished with a red card.\u201d<\/p>\n

West Ham were able to complete the game with 11 men and see out the draw.<\/p>\n

WHAT is the WORST refereeing decision made against Man United this season? \ud83d\udc40 <\/p>\n

\"NathanPhoto by Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images \"ManchesterPhoto by Stu Forster\/Getty ImagesAntoine Semenyo throat grab on Dalot goes ignored<\/p>\n

Manchester United\u2019s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth in December had a bit of everything \u2013 except a red card.<\/p>\n

United fans felt Antoine Semenyo should have seen red for grabbing Diogo Dalot by the throat during a confrontation.<\/p>\n

While it was argued that the yellow card was the right call as it \u2018lacked malice<\/a>\u2018, United fans have long memories with these incidents.<\/p>\n

Casemiro\u2019s red card during the 2022\/23<\/a> season against Crystal Palace saw him sent off for a similar incident. It is this lack of consistency that infuriates United supporters.<\/p>\n

\"BurnleyPhoto by Ash Donelon\/Manchester United via Getty ImagesLisandro Martinez goal disallowed at Turf Moor, as Kyle Walker \u2018stamp\u2019 on Dorgu goes unpunished<\/p>\n

Manchester United\u2019s 2-2 draw away at Burnley under Darren Fletcher was impacted by weak refereeing.<\/p>\n

A clear goal from Lisandro Martinez was disallowed, with Kyle Walker going to ground after barely being touched moments earlier.<\/p>\n

Considering the heavy handed approach United have seen at corners all season, and across the league, ruling this goal out seemed blatantly incorrect at the time.<\/p>\n

Clattenburg told United In Focus<\/a>: \u201cThis was a soft decision as many things go on inside the penalty area which go unpunished, and you can argue that there were some other fouls in the same phase of play.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Premier League\u2019s KMI panel later ruled the decision was wrong<\/a>. Too late.<\/p>\n

In a separate incident in the game, Walker was not even carded for appearing to stamp on Patrick Dorgu.<\/p>\n

Clattenburg added: \u201cKyle Walker was very fortunate not to receive punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SheaPhoto by PETER POWELL \/ AFP via Getty ImagesShea Lacey sent off for dissent<\/p>\n

One decision that was technically correct but lacked some context was the red card given to Shea Lacey in the FA Cup against Brighton.<\/p>\n

Lacey\u2019s second booking was for throwing the ball to the ground after a decision from the referee.<\/p>\n

The teenage substitute was distraught to be sent off on a rare appearance. There is a lesson to be learned, but this was handled with no tact at all, and Darren Fletcher was left seething.<\/p>\n

Clattenburg expressed<\/a> that Simon Hooper should have handled the incident better: \u201cTo the letter of the law, it\u2019s the correct decision. But it shows how the game has changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would prefer the referee to warn the player to calm down and manage the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ManchesterPhoto by Joe Prior\/Visionhaus via Getty ImagesMason Mount\u2019s disallowed goal for \u2018offside\u2019 vs City, Fernandes denied obvious penalty<\/p>\n

The Manchester Derby was a spectacular success for Michael Carrick. It could have been even more emphatic than the 2-0 victory.<\/p>\n

Mason Mount scored a third goal in stoppage time, which was ruled out for one of the most desperately thin offside calls you will ever see.<\/p>\n

Matheus Cunha was judged to be a fraction offside in the build-up to the goal. It was not an obvious one, and even on a replay you had to look two or three times to really see what was wrong.<\/p>\n

Clattenburg commented<\/a>: \u201cThe VAR replays showed that Cunha\u2019s foot was ahead of the second most rear defender and was judged to be more than the tolerance of 5cms offside.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to trust the system and the technology!\u201d<\/p>\n

There was another incident earlier in the game where Bernardo Silva brought down his Portugal teammate Bruno Fernandes inside the box.<\/p>\n

The incident was either missed or ignored by VAR. It\u2019s hard to know what\u2019s worse.<\/p>\n

Clattenburg told United In Focus<\/a>: \u201cManchester United were very unfortunate not to get a penalty kick for a clear trip by Bernardo Silva on Bruno Fernandes.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though the ball is outside the penalty area, the contact happens inside and a penalty kick should have been awarded and a yellow card for reckless play.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s strange that VAR missed this off-the-ball incident, as they would have surely wanted to know why Fernandes had fallen over inside the penalty area.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"BournemouthPhoto by Charlotte Wilson\/Offside\/Offside via Getty ImagesAmad penalty disallowed and Maguire sent off vs Bournemouth<\/p>\n

United were victim to a double-standard against Bournemouth, where two big calls went against us.<\/p>\n

Amad was fouled inside the penalty area, and no foul was given. Bournemouth went on to score at the other end, which made the situation even more frustrating.<\/p>\n

But what really infuriated supporters was to see Bournemouth then awarded a penalty when Evanilson softly went down inside the box, with Harry Maguire sent off as a result.<\/p>\n

The inconsistency left pundits and fans bemused, with even Sky\u2019s Dermot Gallagher admitting<\/a> that the officials\u2019 inconsistency messed up.<\/p>\n

Michael Carrick also blasted: \u201cWe should have had another penalty. Obviously, if you get one, you must get the other.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty much identical for me, two-hand grab. Either way, he\u2019s got one wrong, but to give one and not give the other, I can\u2019t get my head around it. I think it\u2019s crazy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a bit baffling, really. Because of that, they score and then it\u2019s chaos after that, really.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should have had another penalty and the game would have been totally different.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you agree with Michael Carrick \u2013 Should Leeds\u2019 first goal have been ruled out? <\/p>\n

Carrick was fuming after the game<\/p>\n

\"\"Getty Images \"ManchesterPhoto by James Gill \u2013 Danehouse\/Getty ImagesMartinez sent off vs Leeds for hair pull as Calvert-Lewin elbows Yoro<\/p>\n

Dominic Calvert-Lewin\u2019s flailing elbows were absolutely fine all game, in the eyes of referee Paul Tierney.<\/p>\n

But when it came to a slight tug on his pony tail from Lisandro Martinez<\/a>, an instant red card was awarded for \u2018violent conduct\u2019.<\/p>\n

Carrick blasted the inconsistency, pointing out that Calvert-Lewin had hit Leny Yoro in the face<\/a> with his forearm in the lead-up to Leeds\u2019 opener.<\/p>\n

This was not reviewed, despite having a clear bearing on a goal.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, VAR sent Tierney to the screen for an innocuous coming together on the halfway line, where Calvert-Lewin had his hand in Martinez\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

United fans were left infuriated by the decision<\/a>, and so was Michael Carrick, who vented his feelings after the game.<\/p>\n

He told Sky Sports: \u201cIt\u2019s not a pull, it\u2019s not a tug, it\u2019s not aggressive, he touches it and gets sent off. Worst of all is he was sent to overturn it as a clear and obvious error. It\u2019s shocking.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s two games in a row we\u2019ve had those decisions go against us, but that one was one of the worst I\u2019ve seen.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Lisandro Martinez has been SENT OFF for a hair pull \u2013 Let us know your thoughts\u2026 <\/p>\n

It was described as ‘violent conduct’<\/p>\n

\"\"Getty Images Join Our Newsletter<\/p>\n

Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Add as preferred source on Google Manchester United\u2019s 2025\/26 season has been blighted by refereeing mistakes. When Manchester…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":897533,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,393,4884,2465,16,15,16263],"class_list":["post-897532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-manchester","tag-britain","tag-england","tag-great-britain","tag-manchester","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-var"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116413316772620822","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/897532","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=897532"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/897532\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/897533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=897532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=897532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=897532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}