Ref Watch: Why Manchester United goal vs Nottingham Forest should have been disallowed after Bryan Mbeumo handball
Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in the Premier League on Sunday, with the nature of the Old Trafford side's second goal causing controversy; Matheus Cunha's goal stood despite the ball striking Bryan Mbeumo's arm; Gary Neville called the decision a 'shocker'
Monday 18 May 2026 13:04, UK
Ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher says Manchester United's second goal during their 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest should have been disallowed after a Bryan Mbeumo handball.
Matheus Cunha steered home after Mbeumo's initial shot was blocked, which he appeared to handle in the area as the cross came in. VAR recommended that the goal be ruled out, but referee Michael Salisbury overruled that decision after an on-field review.
Speaking on Sky Sports News' Ref Watch, Gallagher said the United forward cushioned the ball with his arm and gained an advantage.
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"It should be disallowed," Gallagher said.
"It's handball. I think Michael [Salisbury] gets seduced by this directive that if it comes off your body and strikes your arm, it's accidental - play on.
"But if you watch this, it's totally different, and I think the VAR has tried to guide him on this. He's done as much as he can.
"Mbeumo's arms are out when it finishes, but then his arm comes in. I think he traps the ball between his arm and his thigh.
"It does strike his thigh, no doubt about that, but it doesn't fly up and hit his body. It almost cushions the ball; it creates that opportunity for Mbeumo.
"At that point, you know, if you listen to the VAR, he's very, very clear he says, 'I think there's a handball offence'.
"He's controlled it with his hand, he sends him to the screen, he does everything he can possibly do, and then it's Michael's choice.
"This comes down to, do you think this is accidental? Is there enough evidence to say that the player gained a massive advantage by what he did?
"I actually think his arm comes in, and that's what cushions the ball. I think it gets trapped. If you look, there's a period where the ball is stationary in his body."
Neville: A 'shocker' of a decision in every way
Gary Neville was bemused as the decision to award a handball was overturned.
"That is a shocker in every way," Neville said on co-commentary.
"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.
"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 [Mbeumo] almost wedged the ball under his arm."
Pereira: Defeat at Man Utd decided by 'very clear' handball
Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira said the result was decided by the clear handball.
"Crazy game, crazy game," Pereira told press. Maybe a good game for the supporters but for a manager, it was an open game.
"Open game, especially in the second half, we conceded a lot of counter-attacks and they are dangerous on counter-attacks.
"But I understand my team. They want to score goals. But in the end we started to lose our organisation, our balance. They got chances to score. We had chances to score and in the end it was a pity the game was decided for a decision, I must accept because it was the decision of the referee but is not my opinion.
"For me, it was handball, very clear. It is sad not to cancel the goal. For me, it was the decision which decided the game."
Pereira also called for a meeting between referees and clubs to clarify rules and decisions.
"These are the doubts we have at the moment in the Premier League about the end decision," he added.
"With the handball, we don't know when it is handball or not.
"The blocks in the box when it is a free-kick, 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 at the moment, they have doubts about some decisions."
