Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer of the PGMO, has shed light on the penalty decisions that went against Manchester United during their match against Bournemouth, citing the varying speeds of the attacking players as a key factor. The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, saw Manchester United take the lead twice, only to be pegged back by the hosts.
One of the turning points in the match was when United winger Amad Diallo had a penalty appeal turned down, despite being held by Adrien Truffert, while a similar incident involving Harry Maguire and Evanilson resulted in a penalty being awarded to Bournemouth. Webb noted that the speed at which the attackers were moving played a significant role in the referees' decisions, with Evanilson's pace being considerably faster than Amad's. The on-field officials, including referee Stuart Attwell and assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis, were mic'd up during the match, providing insight into their thought process. According to Webb, the referees' decisions were respected by the VAR, and the on-field calls stood.
Manchester United's head coach, Michael Carrick, expressed his frustration at the inconsistency in the penalty decisions, describing it as 'crazy' and 'baffling'. Webb acknowledged that the contact between Truffert and Amad was a judgment call, and the referee deemed it insufficient to award a penalty.
The incident highlights the complexities and nuances of refereeing decisions in high-pressure situations.