BREAKING NEWS: The Football Association has reportedly instructed the PGMOL to issue a formal apology following a post-match review that identified serious errors in the VAR process during Manchester United’s recent clash with Arsenal.
According to the review, both the controversial Patrick Dorgu handball incident and the penalty involving Harry Maguire were incorrectly assessed in the VAR room.
An official statement was released earlier this morning, with Arsenal now said to have been awarded all three points as a result of the findings.
The controversy centers around Patrick Dorgu’s goal for Manchester United, which stood despite strong appeals from Arsenal players who believed the ball had struck the young defender’s hand in the buildup.
At the time, former Premier League referee Mike Dean was quick to clarify why the goal was allowed to stand, insisting that VAR had found no clear and obvious evidence of handball.
With the match delicately poised at 1-1 after an action-packed first half, Dorgu combined neatly with Bruno Fernandes just outside Arsenal’s penalty area, exchanging quick passes before striking a powerful volley.
The shot, which was already rising, struck the underside of David Raya’s crossbar before bouncing into the net, sending the United players into celebration.
Almost immediately, VAR initiated a review, as replays appeared to suggest the ball may have made contact with Dorgu’s arm before the strike.
Speaking live on Sky Sports, Mike Dean relayed VAR’s decision, explaining that the footage did not conclusively prove handball. “We’ve just heard from VAR, Paul Tierney,” Dean said at the time. “It’s a fair comment, but it’s inconclusive. You can’t be certain from the angles available.
VAR believes it struck his hip, not his arm. The on-field decision stands, and the goal is given.”
However, a subsequent FA-led review has reportedly contradicted that assessment, concluding that the VAR officials failed to apply the handball law correctly and also made an error in another key decision involving a penalty appeal against Harry Maguire.
These findings prompted the FA to demand an apology from the PGMOL and to take the unprecedented step of revisiting the match outcome.
The game itself was filled with drama from the opening stages. Arsenal started brightly and were rewarded for their early pressure when Lisandro Martínez failed to clear his lines inside his own six-yard box in the 29th minute, inadvertently turning the ball into his own net to give the hosts the lead.
Yet Arsenal’s advantage was short-lived. Just eight minutes later, Declan Rice’s misplaced pass back toward David Raya was intercepted by Bryan Mbeumo, who calmly rounded the goalkeeper and finished into an empty net to restore parity.
Pundit reaction during the match was scathing toward Arsenal’s game management. Gary Neville criticized Mikel Arteta’s side for losing control after going ahead, suggesting they handed United unnecessary opportunities.
“Arsenal’s management of the game after scoring has been awful,” Neville said on Sky Sports. “They’ve gifted United two or three big moments, and that one is the worst of the lot.”
At half-time, Roy Keane echoed similar concerns, arguing that Arsenal appeared unsettled after taking the lead. “It almost felt like scoring worked against them,” Keane remarked.
“They looked nervous and tentative, similar to what we saw against Liverpool here recently. The crowd seemed anxious too, more focused on not losing than pushing on.”
Keane was particularly critical of the buildup to Mbeumo’s equaliser, questioning Declan Rice’s decision-making. “I don’t know what Declan is doing there,” he said. “There needs to be calmness and composure.
Instead, United gain belief, and you can sense the tension in Arsenal’s play. The finish was excellent, and United deserved it.”
With the FA now acknowledging VAR errors, the fallout from this match is set to reignite debates around officiating standards, VAR accountability, and the broader impact of refereeing decisions on Premier League results.
