Manchester United players and former footballers have voiced strong opinions on the penalty controversy involving Amad during Friday's 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. With United leading, Amad appeared to be brought down by Adrien Truffert in the penalty area, but referee Stuart Atwell dismissed the protests. Bournemouth equalised shortly after.
The club subsequently submitted a complaint to the PGMOL. Former Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna agreed that a penalty should have been awarded but said filing a complaint was futile. Speaking to Covers.com, he said: 'Man United should've been awarded a penalty. If this foul is committed in the middle of the pitch, there are no doubts about the right decision. There isn't much point in filing a complaint – the game has been played and there's no reversing the decision.'
The Premier League's Match Centre account on X explained why VAR did not intervene, stating: 'The referee's call of no penalty for a challenge by Truffert was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed the contact was not sufficient for a foul.'
Frustration grew as Harry Maguire conceded a penalty and was sent off for a challenge deemed similar. Maguire wrote on Instagram: 'So soft but that's where football is at atm and I should know better. You would think both decisions would reach the same outcome.'
Captain Bruno Fernandes told Sky Sports: 'I don't understand why VAR doesn't get involved in that situation or with Harry because either one is a penalty and so is the other or none of them are.' Interim head coach Michael Carrick added: 'It's baffling really to make sense of that. One of them must be wrong.'
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola offered a contrasting view, saying: 'I didn't think there was anything in it.'
