Man Utd 3-2 Nottingham Forest: Vitor Pereira calls for Premier League meeting to clarify rules after 'very clear' handball
Forest were furious Matheus Cunha's goal was allowed to stand in Sunday's 3-2 defeat at Man Utd despite Bryan Mbeumo clearly using his arm to control the ball; referee Michael Salibsbury was sent to the monitor to review the goal award but overrode the VAR and stuck with on-field decision
Sunday 17 May 2026 21:50, UK
Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira has called for a Premier League-wide meeting to clarify the rules for managers after what he felt was a "very clear" handball cost his side in a 3-2 defeat at Manchester United.
Matheus Cunha made it 2-1 to United at Old Trafford on Sunday almost instantly after Forest had equalised through Morato, but the goal only stood because referee Michael Salisbury overruled the VAR who had sent him to the on-field monitor.
The VAR felt Bryan Mbeumo controlling the ball between his arm and his body – before his shot was blocked and fell to Cunha – was enough to see the goal chalked off for handball.
However, referee Salisbury deemed the handball to be accidental and went against the opinion of the officials in Stockley Park in a decision which left Pereira perplexed.
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"For me, it was handball, very clear," Pereira said in his post-match press conference. "It is sad not to cancel the goal. For me it was the decision which decided the game."
Pereira's frustration with the officiating in the Premier League is not restricted to the handball rule – he also wants more clarity on the rules around grappling in the box.
This follows last weekend's controversy in Arsenal's 1-0 win at West Ham and the debate around whether Callum Wilson's potential 96th-minute equaliser should have been ruled out.
Pereira added: "These are the doubts we have at the moment in the Premier League about the end decision. With the handball, we don't know when it is a handball or not.
"The blocks in the box when it is free-kicks, we don't know when it's a foul or not. I think it's important to have a meeting with everybody and try to understand the rules, the decisions because everybody, all the managers in this moment, they have doubts about some decisions."
Referee decision explained
In 2021, there was a rule change to the handball law which determined that any accidental handball which leads to a team-mate scoring or having a goal-scoring opportunity will no longer be considered an offence.
This explains Salisbury's decision to override his colleagues on VAR, but speaking to the referee did not change Pereira's view on the matter.
Asked what the referee told him, Pereira said: "He thinks the control with the hand was after a touch on the body.
"I must accept it, but that's not my opinion. In my opinion, he controlled the ball with his hand, and the goal comes from the control. If not then they would not have the chance to shoot and score."
Neville blasts 'ridiculous' decision
The Sky Sports pundits all disagreed with the decision, feeling that Mbeumo had committed a handball offence, which perhaps highlights why Pereira has demanded a Premier League-wide meeting.
Gary Neville said: "Honestly, that is ridiculous. The VAR has been clear: the player has handballed it. He looked at it for three minutes, and the referee has looked at it for another minute.
"I can't believe what I have just seen. That was handball. I don't know what to say.
"There will be nobody watching that game who plays football or who watches football who will think that goal should have been awarded. It feels obvious to disallow. He almost wedged the ball under his arm."
Micah Richards: "It's handball, it's as simple as that. It was clear as day."
Roy Keane: "We are confused. It's handball and I don't think anyone would have complained. We were all scratching our heads when it was given."
