Ex-Fifa official: Man United star Bruno Fernandes has benefited from ‘major error’ as ‘laws fudged’
Man United star Bruno Fernandes should not have been awarded a penalty for handball in Portugal’s 2-0 win over Uruguay in the World Cup on Monday (28 November), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed both the on-field officials and VAR made a “major error” with their decision.
Fernandes tried to play a pass in the penalty area but it was blocked by the arm of Jose Maria Gimenez.
The Uruguay defender was going to ground to block the ball and it hit his arm that he had stretched out to cushion his fall.
Fernandes then converted from the spot to double his side’s lead and his personal tally for the game.
“This is not a penalty kick, this is not handball,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“This is not how the law was intended to be interpreted. For me, this was a major error by the referee and VAR. This was not a clear and obvious error so you have to question why VAR came in.
“This guy was falling. Ok, there was contact but there was no intention to deliberately handle the ball or make his body shape bigger. He went to ground naturally and is putting his arm down to stop his fall and it happens to hit the ball.
“I know the handball law is fudged but if that’s regarded as the correct decision when the player doesn’t have a clue where the ball is and is putting his arm out in a natural reaction to stop himself falling, it’s never a penalty kick.”
In other news, Man United are now confident of signing a £50million-plus summer target in January.