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Various pundits have been discussing on-field referee Michael Salisbury's decision to award Manchester United's second goal against Nottingham Forest, despite an apparent handball by the Red Devils' Bryan Mbeumo in the build-up.
Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann told Final Score: "You can clearly see the ball comes off Mbeumo's arm prior to going to [Matheus] Cunha. For me, it is a penalisable handball.
"Mbeumo does control the ball and, while he is not the scorer himself, football's expectation is for a goal like that to be disallowed as opposed to being given.
"The law states that usually if it is the scorer who has accidentally or deliberately handled the ball before putting the ball in the back of the net, it will be disallowed.
"Football's expectation is that the handball outweighs any possible deflection off Mbeumo's hip.
"It is a good intervention from the VAR. I would've recommended a review myself, had I been the VAR. I do think that while it is commendable the referee sticks with their decision, which we don't see very often, this is only the fourth time it has happened. But I feel the correct decision is to disallow the goal for a handball.
"It is a decision that will split people. I can see both sides of the argument but we've had so many talks recently about needing to go back to deliberate handball. If it's unequivocally a handball, then we disallow. If the handball is accidental or if the arm is in an unnatural position, and we have all these clauses in the law, then it gets a bit complicated - so I would advocate for a return to just deliberate handball."
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said on Sky Sports: "It is a handball. It is as simple as that. The referee has gone to the screen and made a decision but, if you look at it, it is clear as day."
Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane added: "We are confused here, especially because the referee was asked to go to the screen and then still gave it.
"All of us ex-footballers will all be saying the same thing - handball. I don't think anyone would've complained about it. We were all scratching our heads when it was allowed."
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