The Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) has admitted that Manchester Uniteds second goal in Sundays 3-2 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest should have been ruled out for handball.Referees chief Howard Webb contacted Forest on Monday to acknowledge that referee Michael Salisbury made the wrong decision after being advised to review the incident by VAR official Matt Donohue.Table of ContentsControversial Goal Sparks DebateForest Left FrustratedWebb Explains PGMO PositionControversial Goal Sparks DebateThe incident occurred during Uniteds second goal when the ball struck the arm of forward Bryan Mbeumo before he attempted a shot.The effort was blocked by a defender, but the loose ball fell to Matheus Cunha, who fired home to put United 2-0 ahead.VAR official Donohue instructed Salisbury to review the incident at the pitchside monitor with a recommendation to overturn the goal for handball.However, Salisbury judged the contact to be accidental and allowed the goal to stand.It marked only the 17th time in seven Premier League seasons and the fourth occasion this campaign that a referee has rejected the advice of the VAR after an on-field review.3EG12MW Manchester, UK. 17th May, 2026. Matheus Cunha of Manchester United celebrates scoring their second goal during the Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Picture credit should read: Andrew Yates/Sportimage Credit: Sportimage Ltd/Alamy Live NewsForest Left FrustratedForest players were unhappy with the decision during and after the match, believing the handball directly influenced the goal.From the angle I was standing at, it looked like he caught the ball, said Morgan Gibbs-White after the game.Whether he scores or not, for me it was still a handball.The result proved costly for Forest as United eventually secured a 3-2 win.Webb Explains PGMO PositionWebb explained to Forest that while there could be some interpretation around accidental handball, the expectation within football is that the goal should have been disallowed.The Premier Leagues handball guidelines are generally more lenient when it comes to natural body movement and accidental contact.However, PGMO believes the VAR recommendation should ultimately have been followed because Mbeumo gained control of the ball with his arm during the attacking phase that led directly to the goal.Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann agreed with that assessment.While I think that it is commendable to see a referee stick with his original decision, I believe that footballs expectation is Mbeumo controlling the ball, especially when it leads to a goal, outweighs the possible deflection off Mbeumos hip, Cann told BBC Sport.Mbeumo does control the ball [with his hand] and while hes not the scorer himself, footballs expectation is for that to be disallowed. Topics Manchester United F.C. Nottingham Forest F.C. Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Michael Carrick plays down future talks: Over the coming days, therell be clarity in the situation Tom Rostance 17th May, 2026 Manchester United 3-2 Nottingham Forest: Fernandes equals assist record in cracking game Tom Rostance 17th May, 2026 LIVE Manchester United v Nottingham Forest: Commentary, updates, goals and stats Jon Fisher 15th May, 2026 Manchester United v Nottingham Forest: Teams confirmed as Casemiro starts final Old Trafford game Tom Rostance 17th May, 2026 Which Premier League games are on TV during the last week of the 2025/26 season? May 2026 schedule, confirmed kick-off times, final day Ben Miller 16th May, 2026 De Ligt as determined as ever to represent Manchester United after surgery Nicholas McGee 15th May, 2026
