Premier League release statement explaining why Hojlund was denied penalty against City | Football | Sport
The Premier League have explained why Rasmus Hojlund was denied a penalty in the Manchester derby. Ruben Dias’ clumsy challenge sent Hojlund tumbling in the box but referee Anthony Taylor chose not to award a spot-kick.
The Manchester United forward attempted to chase a bouncing ball towards the byline. Manchester City defender Dias stepped across him but did not win the ball, which rolled out of play for a goal-kick.
Hojlund went down and believed he had been fouled. The Premier League confirmed that VAR officials Stuart Attwell and Simon Bennett believed that the contact had been ‘normal’ and was not enough to award a penalty to United.
A statement by the Premier League Match Centre X account read: “The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge between Hojlund and Dias was checked and confirmed by VAR, deeming it was normal contact.”
Speaking on Sky Sports commentary, former United defender Gary Neville was not convinced that the officials had made the right decision. He said: “It’s clumsy, that we do know. He (Dias) seemed to step across the United attacker. Mike [Dean]? I think there’s something in that.
“I think his left leg goes across Hojlund’s knee. It’s not a massive contact but if you look at this now, as he chest it into his path, he goes for the ball Dias…”
Referee expert Mike Dean disagreed with Neville, saying: “His (Dias’) left leg comes across and it’s more clumsy than anything. It’s just a natural coming together in my opinion. Correct decision by the referee.
“I don’t think that’s enough, not in a game like this. I think you go with the referee’s call on the day and he called it right and VAR has confirmed his decision.”
Hojlund was hugely involved in the game. Just prior to half-time, the 21-year-old went head to head with Kyle Walker, who feigned an injury. The City star fell to the ground hoping that referee Taylor would send Hojlund off.
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane fumed at the England international, saying: “It’s a foul, Hojlund’s not happy, that’s fine. But Walker… Walker must be embarrassed. He must be embarrassed to go down like that. There’s no contact, I’m embarrassed.”
United went on to seal a remarkable comeback in the final five minutes. Bruno Fernandes‘ 88th-minute penalty cancelled out Josko Gvardiol’s first-half header, before Amad Diallo dramatically struck the winner in added-time.
