VAR CONTROVERSY: Officials Acknowledge Errors After Semenyo Incident as Manchester United Feel Hard Done By in Dramatic Draw
A highly controversial night of football has reignited debate around refereeing standards after a series of flashpoints involving Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo and Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot.
The incident, which occurred during an intense period of the match, quickly escalated and became one of the defining moments of an already chaotic encounter.
Tensions flared when Semenyo challenged Dalot in an aerial duel and appeared visibly frustrated by the contact that followed.
Moments later, the Bournemouth attacker confronted the United full-back and seemed to raise his hand toward Dalot’s neck area.
The action immediately drew the attention of referee Simon Hooper, who rushed in as several players from both sides became involved, triggering a brief mass confrontation on the pitch.
Hooper acted swiftly to restore order, ultimately issuing yellow cards to both players involved in the altercation. While some observers felt the punishment was lenient, others argued that the referee struck the right balance given the circumstances.
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville, providing commentary for Sky Sports, offered his analysis of the incident.
Neville suggested that Semenyo’s reaction carried significant risk, even if the contact did not fully escalate into something more serious.
“It looked like Semenyo clipped Dalot in the face at first, although it might have been slightly lower,” Neville explained. “Either way, it’s a huge gamble.
I understand why he reacted Dalot nudged him while he was airborne, which is a bit cheeky — but going toward the neck area is dangerous territory. Pulling back probably saved him. Two yellow cards felt like the correct outcome.”
While that flashpoint grabbed headlines, the match itself delivered relentless drama. Manchester United managed to edge back in front deep into first-half stoppage time when Casemiro rose highest to head home from a corner kick, giving the hosts renewed momentum heading into the interval.
That advantage did not last long. Bournemouth responded quickly after the restart, with Evanilson bringing the visitors level early in the second half.
Shortly after, Marcus Tavernier swung the match in Bournemouth’s favour with a well-taken free kick that left the Old Trafford crowd stunned.
The contest then descended into a breathless back-and-forth exchange of goals. Tactical substitutions from United injected new energy into the side, and their persistence finally paid off.
Bruno Fernandes fired in a superb free kick to equalise before Matheus Cunha, assisted by Benjamin Šeško, completed the turnaround by putting United ahead at 4–3.
Just when it seemed the home side had done enough to secure all three points, Bournemouth struck again. Eli Junior Kroupi netted a late equaliser, scoring the eighth and final goal of the evening to ensure the match ended level — a result that left United players and supporters visibly frustrated.
In the aftermath, discussions have focused heavily on officiating decisions, with many questioning whether earlier incidents particularly those involving Semenyo were handled correctly.
The dramatic nature of the match, combined with contentious refereeing calls, has ensured this fixture will be remembered as one of the most turbulent encounters of the season.
