The powers that be at the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the refereeing body for English football, have admitted that Manchester United's...
The powers that be at the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the refereeing body for English football, have admitted that Manchester United's second goal in their Premier League tussle with Nottingham Forest on Sunday ought to have been disallowed for a clear handball infringement. GoalZaza can exclusively report that the incident, which saw the Red Devils snatch all three points at the City Ground, has left the football fraternity in Nigeria buzzing with debate and a fair measure of indignation. In the scheme of things, the goal in question came at a critical juncture when Forest were showing resilience and had the lion's share of promising moments. Manchester United's attacker controlled the ball with his arm before turning it into the net, yet the match officials waved play on. The PGMO has now conceded that technology and on field judgment failed in that instance, a development that has reinforced longstanding calls from Nigerian fans for the full deployment of VAR in every Premier League encounter. At the end of the day, the admission does little to restore the point that Nottingham Forest lost. The Super Eagles faithful, who have a soft spot for Forest's Nigerian international Taiwo Awoniyi, felt particularly aggrieved. Awoniyi, who gave a good account of himself with his typical strength and intelligent runs, was left ruing what might have been had the officials done their job properly. GoalZaza understands that the PGMO's frank admission is rare but does not change the result on the pitch. For Nigerian fans who congregate at viewing centres in Surulere, Lagos, and in the FCT, Abuja, the news was received with a mixture of anger and resigned humour. At the popular De Ultimate Sports Bar in Surulere, patrons shouted at the screen again as the replay was shown, with one man declaring, "This is why our local referees are better at least you can dash them kola nut and they will see the truth." Another fan, nursing a bottle of Maltina, shook his head and said, "If it was Osimhen doing that handball, they would have called it before the ball entered the net. The English referees have no shame." In a viewing centre near Wuse Market in Abuja, the mood was similarly heated as supporters debated whether NFF should petition the PGMO directly. The general consensus was that while Manchester United took the victory, the controversy only adds more spice to the Super Eagles' next match as fans expect their own players to be treated fairly.
