Five Refereeing Decisions That Have Damaged Man United’s Campaign This Season 1

Manchester United can feel very hard done by after Saturday’s home draw with Arsenal.

Not only did the Red Devils dominate their rivals, but Antonio Valencia should have been awarded a penalty in the first half when Nacho Monreal fouled him inside the box.

For a player of the Ecuadorian’s size, he went down easily, but there was enough contact for referee Andre Marriner to point to the spot.

But he didn’t, with Jose Mourinho furious on the sidelines and later left to rue his side squandering a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Olivier Giroud’s late equaliser.

It wasn’t the first time United have suffered from poor refereeing this season, though. Here are five decisions (including Saturday’s) that have gone against them.

VS ARSENAL (20/11/16)FBL-ENG-PR-MAN UTD-ARSENAL

Starting with Saturday’s controversy, the aforementioned Valencia knocked the ball past Monreal and went down in the 18-yard box.

Contact was minimal, but Monreal put out his arm and blocked the right-back, who was running at full speed. “I think on balance it was a penalty” was Howard Webb’s verdict.

VS MANCHESTER CITY (10/09/16)


How Claudio Bravo didn’t get sent off – let alone give away a penalty – for his studs-up challenge on Wayne Rooney inside the box is anyone’s guess.

United were 2-1 down at the time and scoring from the spot would have flipped the game on its head, especially with Manchester City down to 10 men.

VS WATFORD (18/09/16)Watford v Manchester United - Premier League

In the build-up to Etienne Capoue’s opener against United, Miguel Britos fouled Anthony Martial to win back possession down the right-hand side.

Referee Michael Oliver didn’t blow, though, with Britos squaring for Capoue to finish. Momentum was then with Watford, who went on to win 3-1.

VS CHELSEA (23/10/16)


Okay, so United were awful against Chelsea, but David Luiz should have been sent off for his studs-up challenge on Marouane Fellaini with the scoreline 2-0.

Mourinho’s men might have staged a comeback against 10 men, but because Luiz didn’t see red, they fell further behind and eventually lost 4-0.

VS BURNLEY (29/10/16)FBL-ENG-PR-MAN UTD-BURNLEY

Another penalty not given. Matteo Darmian was tripped just inside the 18-yard box by Jon Flanagan yet play continued, with United’s players furious.

The game ended 0-0 and, while the Red Devils were guilty of missing countless golden opportunities in front of goal, scoring from the spot would have changed everything.