Man Utd receive new Matheus Cunha penalty verdict as ex-Premier League ref weighs in

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes Manchester United were correctly denied a penalty in their 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. Matheus Cunha tumbled inside the box following contact with William Salibaduring the closing moments of the Premier League clash.

Having latched onto Matthijs de Ligt'sdelivery in the area, the summer recruit failed to make proper contact with the ball. Saliba appeared to catch Cunha's left foot, but referee Simon Hooper chose not to punish the defender.

Television replays revealed the Gunners ace did make contact with the £62.5million signing from Wolves, sparking anger the infringement went unnoticed. During Monday morning's discussion of the incident alongside former Premier Leagueforward Jay Bothroyd on Sky Sports programme Ref Watch, the ex-official backed Hooper's choice not to grant United a spot-kick.

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"I wasn't convinced it was a penalty, but I will say that if it is going to be a penalty, it's one for the referee to give, not one for VAR," Gallagher explained on Sky Sports News.

Bothroyd then questioned why, highlighting the prospect of such a challenge being penalised elsewhere on the pitch, asking: "How's that not a penalty? That's a guaranteed penalty. If that happens on the half-way line, that's a free-kick. Is it a free-kick on the halfway line?"

Gallagher responded: "It wasn't on the halfway line. I don't play that game," prompting Bothroyd to instantly reply: "Why not? A free-kick on the halfway line should be the same as in the box."

After Gallagher responded: "I agree on that. No, not a foul," Bothroyd snapped back: "That's definitely a foul. He's come through the back of him. The ball was there, he came through the back of him and hit the foot that he planted. It's a penalty."

Despite Bothroyd's insistence, Gallagher ended the discussion by stating: "You judge what happens and at that point, I don't think it's a foul. I wouldn't give a foul [anywhere else on the pitch]."

Ex-Premier League official Keith Hackett also agreed with Hooper's original decision. Hackett told Football Insider: "There is no doubt that the defender made contact with Cunha.

"The problem here is that the player is already falling down backwards and was searching for a penalty kick. The referee is spot on. VAR isn’t going to get involved because it’s not a clear and obvious error.

"Players often exaggerate their fall when a foul has taken place, and that exaggeration often makes the referee not give it. Saliba has made a genuine attempt for the ball, and Cunha is already on his way down. He’s not even facing the goal – why? There are lots of questions to be asked here."

United travel to Fulham in their next Premier League game on August 31st. The Cottagers drew 1-1 away to Brighton on the weekend, with Rodrigo Muniz cancelling out Matt O'Riley's penalty in the 96th minute for the west Londoners.

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