Premier League issue statement after Man Utd penalty fury in Man City clash
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The Premier League have explained why Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund was denied a penalty in Sunday's dramatic 2-1 win over Manchester City. A statement was released minutes after a coming together between Hojlund and Ruben Dias in the penalty area during the second half was cleared by VAR, saying: "The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge between Højlund and Dias was checked and confirmed by VAR, deeming it was normal contact.".
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean said on commentary for Sky Sports that he felt the coming together did not warrant a spot-kick, saying: "I thought it was a natural coming together. "I don't think that's enough in a game like this," he added, when former Red Devils defender Gary Neville queried the call.
Neville said: "It was clumsy, that we do know. It may have just been a coming together but Dias seemed to step across the Manchester United striker. I think there's something in it, his left leg goes across Hojlund's knee.". United were trailing 1-0 at the time of the incident, with Josko Gvardiol heading the Premier League champions into the lead just before half-time. United did earn a penalty, though, later in the match, which Bruno Fernandes converted minutes before a last-gasp winner from Amad.
There was no shortage of talking points on a tense afternoon at The Etihad, including a brief 22-man melee after an incident involving Hojlund and Manchester City right-back, Kyle Walker. Join the debate! Do you think Hojlund should have had a penalty? Let us know here.
