Webb Admits Mistake in Man United’s Controversial Goal Vs Nottingham Forest

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has issued a formal apology to Nottingham Forest following a controversial refereeing decision in their Premier League clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

PGMOL chief Howard Webb personally contacted Forest officials to acknowledge that Matheus Cunha’s goal should have been disallowed due to a clear handball by Bryan Mbeumo in the build-up.

Despite a VAR review, referee Michael Salisbury and his team allowed the goal to stand, sparking widespread criticism.

Webb admitted the officiating error, confirming that the technical interpretation applied during the match did not meet the standards expected at the top level of English football.
Forest head coach Vitor Pereira expressed frustration after the 3-2 defeat, calling for greater clarity in the application of handball laws.

‘For me, it was handball, very clear. It is sad not to cancel the goal. For me, it was the decision that decided the game,’ Pereira said, urging for a summit to address inconsistencies in officiating.

The decision also drew sharp criticism from pundits. Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville described the ruling as ‘a shocker,’ while Alan Shearer labelled it ‘disgraceful,’ reflecting a growing consensus that Nottingham Forest had been unfairly penalised.

The Premier League Match Centre initially defended the decision as ‘accidental handball,’ but Webb’s apology has now confirmed that the ruling was incorrect, reigniting debate over VAR’s reliability and the consistency of refereeing standards in the Premier League.