The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMO) chief refereeing officer, Howard Webb, has provided insight into the penalty decisions that went against Manchester United during their match against Bournemouth. According to Webb, the key factor in these decisions was the speed at which the attackers were moving.
In the case of Manchester United's Amad Diallo, who had a penalty appeal dismissed, Webb noted that Diallo was not moving particularly quickly when he was held by Bournemouth's Adrien Truffert. In contrast, when Harry Maguire pulled over Evanilson, resulting in a penalty for Bournemouth, Webb observed that Evanilson was moving at a much faster pace.
Webb emphasized that the referee's judgment call on the impact of the contact was crucial in both instances. The VAR respected the on-field decisions in both cases, but Webb suggested that if the referee had not awarded a penalty in the Maguire incident, the VAR would have intervened. Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes and head coach Michael Carrick expressed frustration that only one of the penalties was awarded, despite what they saw as similar situations.
Webb acknowledged that the contact between Truffert and Amad was a risk, but the referee deemed it insufficient to warrant a penalty. The incident highlights the complexities and nuances of refereeing decisions in high-pressure situations.