‘Absolutely incredible’ – Stunned host ‘proved’ PGMOL wrong over major Fulham vs Man United incident
VAR were wrong to award a penalty to Man United at Fulham on Sunday and Richard Keys insists he was able to prove that Luke Shaw committed a foul on Rodrigo Muniz before the spot-kick offence.
Man United took on the Cottagers in West London on Sunday looking to notch their first three points of the campaign, while Fulham were aiming to build on a late opening day draw against Brighton.
Ruben Amorim’s side took the lead in the second-half as Leny Yoro’s header was diverted into his own net by Muniz, but the hosts hit back through Emile Smith-Rowe and the spoils were shared at Craven Cottage.
Prior to those two strikes, United were handed a golden chance to take the lead in the first period as Chris Kavanagh awarded them a spot-kick after a VAR review for a foul by Calvin Bassey on Mason Mount.
United captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up and blazed his penalty over the crossbar as the score remained 0-0, but Keys believes that he should not have even been given the chance to step up from 12 yards after he reviewed the incident in-depth live on beIN SPORTS.
Luke Shaw fouled Rodrigo Muniz before Calvin Bassey’s challenge on Mason Mount
The penalty incident was shrouded in controversy as Bassey’s foul was seemingly preceded by his Fulham teammate Muniz being illegally challenged by Red Devils defender Shaw, as all four players ended up in a heap in the hosts’ box.
According to beIN SPORTS presenter and broadcaster Keys, via his blog post from Monday, 25 August, he was able to prove live on air that referee Chris Kavanagh had come to the wrong conclusion by giving a penalty to United, with Shaw’s challenge on Muniz starting before Bassey hauled Mount to the floor.
He said: “What was going on at Fulham yesterday? Why did Darren England – in VAR – get involved at the corner that led to a pen for United? Ok, Bassey did foul Mount. But right behind that pair, Luke Shaw was holding Muniz. Both were fouls. How could England and then the hapless Chris Kavanagh punish one offence but not the other?
“The Matchday centre told us one started before the other. They were right, Shaw grabbed Muniz first and we proved this on BeINSPORTS. But United got a pen. Incredible. I mean it. Absolutely incredible.
“As usual Kavanagh saw nothing. He was asked to go to the monitor 1’50” after the corner. If he’d been doing his job properly he’d have stopped the kick being taken and warned everybody about holding.”
Man United should have sold Luke Shaw this summer
Football Insider verdict
United have seemingly tried to overhaul their squad throughout this summer transfer window, yet with less than a week left until it closes, they have been left with a very similar defence to last season, the exact same midfield and a freshened attack.
Amorim should have recognised their faults at the back and invested in numerous new defenders, while also getting rid of his poor existing ones like Shaw.
He made just 12 appearances last season after missing the first three months of the campaign with a calf injury, and former chief scout at Old Trafford, Mick Brown, told Football Insider last month that Man United were entertaining “huge” offers for Shaw amid interest from Saudi Pro League sides.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 289 | 4 | 29 |
Brown, however, revealed to Football Insider on Thursday (21 August) that Man United now have no intentions of letting Shaw leave in the latter stages of the transfer window, which could prove to be a mistake after he should have cost them a chance to take the lead at Fulham.
The 30-year-old is clearly not getting any better with age and should have been replaced by someone younger and fitter this summer, yet United’s poor planning and focus on bolstering other areas means he will remain in their side this season despite not playing consistently well for a good while.