The Reason Why Man United were not given penalty for Cedric Soares handball

The Reason Why Man United were not given penalty for Cedric Soares handball

Former Premier League referee Peter Walton backed VAR’s decision not to penalise Arsenal defender Cedric Soares, despite what appeared to be a clear handball offence against Manchester United.

With the score 2-1 in Arsenal’s favour in the first half, Manchester United were denied a seemingly obvious handball.

Cedric Soares was the guilty of moving the ball away from Jadon Sancho. In the process, the right-back fell down and appeared to divert the ball with his arm.

A handball was not given, much to the fury of United supporters and players.

Explaining the decision, former Premier League arbiter Walton told BT Sport: ‘As they go down his arm is extending out there to save him from falling onto the ground.

‘The law is quite specific, if the arm is there to prevent him from falling on the floor and the ball strikes his arm it cannot be a deliberate act.

‘I, as a referee, don’t know the intention of the player. All I can do is go on the actions of the player and his actions there is defended by the law because the law says if the ball strikes his arm as he’s falling over is there to break his fall’.

Things went from bad to worse after Anthony Elanga was brought down by Nuno Tavares but the referee simply brushed it off.

Jadon Sancho was clearly furious after he was denied a penalty against Arsenal. (Getty Images)

The 3-1 defeat was unfortunate but in this case, certain things were simply out of our control.

Arsenal moved to fourth place on the Premier League table occupying that last Champions League qualification spot ahead of Tottenham having played a game more.

In other news, Steven Gerrard makes honest admission regarding the infamous incident which played a role in his Liverpool exit