Erik ten Hag looked very upset after his team drew in the match against Burnley. Manchester United took a lead through a brilliant finish by their Brazilian winger Antony in the 79th minute.
‘The Red Devils’ looked all set to gain the three points that would boost their hopes for next season’s UEFA club competitions. However, things would take a turn for the worse shortly after.
⚖️ It finishes level.#MUFC || #MUNBUR
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 27, 2024
Casemiro made the questionable decision to head the ball towards his defense which came through a dangerous Burnley long ball into the United box. However, Andre Onana too made a terrible mistake as he missed the ball completely and punched Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni instead.
Manchester United would then concede a penalty, that Zeki duly converted. However, the 20-time Premier League winners’ ordeal won’t be over just then.
Antony’s 90th-minute shot would hit a Burnley defender in his penalty box, which called for a spot kick from the United players. However, this time the referees didn’t even consult the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), let alone award Manchester United the penalty.
Football is unfair for Manchester United, Antony got a penalty but turned down by VAR. Shame!!! pic.twitter.com/LkcnACN2fW
— uncle_mohr👨🏽⚕️🔴 (@SaniHarunasani1) April 27, 2024
This has invited harsh criticism from the club’s fanbase, who have expressed their frustration on the internet. Manchester United coach, Erik ten Hag too couldn’t keep his cool, as he questioned the consistency of such penalty calls.
Erik ten Hag believes that his team hasn’t been lucky with refereeing lately
The Dutch tactician declared that Manchester United has conceded many penalties in recent times. Although he believes that the one Onana conceded against Burnley was justified, Erik believes Manchester United deserved to be awarded the penalty when Antony’s shot hit the Burnley player’s hand.
Erik ten Hag said, “We are not lucky with the refereeing in recent weeks. We’ve conceded so many penalties, this one is justified but other ones. If you make [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka in the final a penalty then what is this? Where is the consistency?”
🎙️ | Ten Hag: “We are not lucky with the refereeing in recent weeks. We’ve conceded so many penalties, this one is justified but other ones. If you make [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka in the final a penalty then what is this. Where is the consistency?” [Sky Sports] pic.twitter.com/R5qxgumrJ2
— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) April 27, 2024
The former AFC Ajax manager believes that Manchester United’s penalty call against Burnley was similar to the one they conceded when Aaron Wan-Bissaka handled the ball against Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final. The Dutch tactician said that the referees’ penalty calls haven’t been consistent in this regard. However, this isn’t the only time when the referees have been called out in the PL.
Nottingham Forest openly criticized PGMOL for wrong penalty decisions
Nottingham Forest took on Everton in an away fixture on April 15, 2024, in an important Premier League fixture. The English team has been battling relegation for the majority of the 23/24 season and the three points from this game would be very precious for either of the teams.
Unfortunately for the away team, would go on to win the game with a convincing 2-0 margin, giving Luton Town the upper hand in its relegation battle with Forest. However, Nottingham Forest looked pretty frustrated by the refereeing decisions in the game, as they believe the team was wrongfully not awarded 3 penalties.
The 2-time UEFA Champions League winners released a statement that read, “Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept. We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times.”
Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept.
We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times.
NFFC will now consider its options.
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 21, 2024
Forest even threatened to appeal against the decision. They believe that the PGMOL shouldn’t have appointed Stuart Atwell, as the VAR referee of a potential relegation decider. The decision had become even more controversial when Gary Neville asked Forest’s Referee Consultant Mark Clattenburg to resign from his post after the latter criticized the VAR Stuart Atwell.
Nottingham Forest has even asked PGMOL to release the audio recordings of the VAR officials in the game against Everton. The whole fiasco has certainly brought shame to the name of the Premier League and has raised questions about the integrity of the referees.