Gary Neville gives verdict as VAR punishes Man Utd with controversial penalty

29 October 2023 , 16:24

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Referee Paul Tierney awarded a penalty after checking the pitch-side monitor (Image: Sky Sports)

Gary Neville suggested that Manchester City were fortunate to receive a penalty in Sunday's derby clash, branding the decision "soft" - despite Mike Dean insisting it was "100 percent correct".

City went 1-0 up from the resulting spot kick midway through the first half after Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund was penalised. The Dane, signed from Italian side Atlanta for £72million this summer, had been adjudged to have brought down City midfielder Rodri following a VAR check by referee Paul Tierney. Tierney had missed the incident in real time and was sent over to the pitch-side monitor.

United vehemently protested the decision before Erling Haaland coolly made it 10 goals in 10 Premier League games by sending Andre Onana the wrong way in front of the Stretford End. Neville admitted that it was "absolutely a penalty" in slow motion, although he claimed that kind of incident between Hojlund and Rodri "happens a lot on set pieces."

Speaking on Sky commentary, the former United captain said: “I’ve watched it three or four times. In slow motion it looks a no-brainer, it’s a penalty. I think in real time he definitely goes round him then lets him go as most players would.

“Personally I think it is a little bit soft, but he’s not going to get away with it Hojlund. He has lost his man, he has wrapped his arm around him and he’s going to pay for it. When you stop him in slow motion with an arm around him like that, it’s absolutely a penalty. But I think that happens a lot on set pieces and Rodri knows what he’s doing. It’s clever from him.”

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Have your say! Do you think it was a penalty? Let us know your verdict in the comments section.

Erling Haaland put Manchester City 1-0 up following the VAR controversy (PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Ex-Premier League referee Dean added: “It’s a clear holding offence. He’s stopping Rodri from getting to it right in the dropping zone. And he didn’t have to do it to be honest. Correct decision in my opinion, 100 percent.”

Jamie Carragher agreed with Neville's assessment and described the call as "harsh." "I'm not saying it's not a foul, but this happens constantly, virtually every game you see and you don't see penalties given for it," Carragher added at half-time.

"I feel a bit for Manchester United because every team could show an incident like this that they feel like they should have had a penalty. (Hojlund) lost him, he panics, and the left arm comes out and like everything, it looks worse in slow motion."

Nathan Ridley