Premier League Panel Clears Referee on Controversial No-Penalty Call

0:00On April 2nd, the Premier League's key-match incidents panel just cleared the referee and VAR on that big no penalty call for Manchester United's Amad. Dialo against Bournemouth last month. It happened on March 20th at Vitality Stadium, where Dialo went down in the box after contact from defender Adrian Trufford. The panel ruled the hands-on challenge, wasn't foul-worthy, voting three to two against the spot kick. Right after, Bournemouth countered and Ryan Christie scored in the 67th minute, turning a potential 2-0 United lead into a 1-1 draw. VAR, Craig Paulson checked it, and stuck with Ref Steward Atwell's call, saying no clear error. The panel backed that unanimously, noting the contact fell short of their high threshold for intervention. United were heated, blasting the inconsistencies since two other holding penalties got awarded in the same game. One to them on Matthias Cunia, the other. Against Harry McGuire, who even saw Red, manager Michael Carey called it baffling, and pundits like Alan Scherer agreed it looked identical.

1:03The panel fully supported those other calls, 5-0 on Cunias, and 4-1 on McGuire's, while clearing a earlier no call on McGuire unanimously. They judge each incident solo, not side by side, for consistency. Meanwhile, the only on-field error from Game Week 31 was a mispenalty for Chelsea against Everton in the 85th minute, when James. Tarkowski swung an arm into Wesley Fafana's chest, 3-2 vote there, but no VAR overturned. Ref's keep refining that high VAR, as these tight calls keep sparking debates.