Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes Nottingham Forest were rightly denied a penalty in their defeat to Manchester United.
With the scores still level, the ball struck Harry Maguire’s arm from a corner, leading to appeals from the Reds for a penalty to be awarded. Referee Simon Hooper did not point to the spot and VAR opted not to overrule the initial decision due to the congestion of players competing for the cross.
Man United went on to establish a 2-0 lead but may have faced a completely different test at the City Ground, had Forest scored from the spot. Manager Steve Cooper described the incident as a “really, really bad error”, which could have led to a second yellow card for Maguire after an early caution for a foul on Tawio Awoniyi. However, ex-ref Gallagher said the officials had not made the wrong call.
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“I understand why he didn’t give it,” Gallagher told Sky Sports. “I think it’s so congested, two players go to head the ball. I feel Maguire might head the ball himself first but when you look at it, he runs a risk under the new directives about having his arm up - but every player’s got their arm up there.
“I think we’d probably be debating more if the referee had given a penalty than what we are now. “
However, pundits Stephen Warnock and Sue Smith sided with the Forest boss and disagreed with Gallagher’s interpretation of events. “I’m with Steve Cooper on this one, I’m afraid, Dermot,” said Smith. “I think it’s a handball. When his hand is in that unnatural position and it hits his arm, I thought it was a penalty.”
Warnock expanded on his reasoning and questioned why Maguire had moved his arms in order to win the header, describing Maguire as “very lucky” to have escaped any punishment.
“You talk about being congested but you still don’t have to jump (with your arms),” the former full-back explained. “When you jump with your arms, more often than not, it’s to give leverage on someone, just a little bit on the shoulder. But this one, his arm’s out to the side and i just think it’s such an unusual position for him to jump.
“It’s almost like he’s expecting contact from somewhere but it doesn’t mean he has to jump with his arm out to the side like he does. I think he’s a very lucky man.
Responding to the pundits’ criticisms, Gallagher conceded that a penalty could have potentially been given under the handball rules. However, he maintained that the officials had not made a mistake by waving away Forest’s appeals.
“I think he’s running a massive risk but I understand why it’s not given,” Gallagher replied, “like I said, because of the amount of traffic in there. I also think it may well have come off his head but it’s difficult.”
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