Ex-PGMOL chief hits out at 'cheating' as Diogo Dalot incident re-analysed

Andreas Schjelderup should have been cautioned following his clash with Manchester United's Diogo Dalot in Portugal's win over Norway.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Benfica winger essentially attempted to con the referee on Sunday, 4 October.

In the 85th minute, Schjelderup darted into Portugal's penalty area, with Norway searching for an equaliser in the dying embers of the game.

Kristoff Ajer had opened the scoring for the away side, only for Joao Cancelo and Goncalo Ramos to hit back at the Estadio Do Dragao.

Norway's No.21 was absolutely furious after feeling that he had been bundled to the ground by Man United's starting right-back, only for those calls to be waved away.

VAR also agreed with the decision not to award a spot-kick, with the defeat meaning that Erling Haaland's Norway are bottom of Nations League A Group 4.

Diogo Dalot nearly the victim of simulation vs Norway

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett reviewed the footage, and chose to agree with the referee, while criticising Schjelderup's attempted dive.

"I'm looking at simulation here. If you look at the outcome of that guy's body shape, it's diagonal across his opponent," he said.

"If you're running and trying to play the ball, you're either going around and you're gonna fall, but you're going to fall forward.

"Or you're going to actually stop vertically for unfair impeding. This is simulation, and it was a chance for the referee to show authority by issuing a yellow card.

"He got away with it. I think the player involved shouldn't have run and had contact with the body. I can understand the referee just waving it away."

Michael Carrick to be frustrated back at Old Trafford

While Dalot's performance will breathe new confidence into his displays at Old Trafford, the international break has not been a good one for Man United.

While Bruno Fernandes returned from his injury, the same is unlikely to be said for Patrick Dorgu, who had been growing into his role this season.

The full-back appears to have injured his hamstring again, likely to be joining Matthijs de Ligt in the treatment room, having no returned yet.

Noussair Mazraoui has also picked up a knock on international duty, and so too have Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford.

It remains to be seen which of these players will be absent for the Red Devils' huge clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, 10 October.