Why VAR Allowed Middlesbroughs' Goal Against Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo 36, after the penalty miss

Manchester United's  woes  was compounded on Friday when Championship side  Middlesbrough dumped them out of the FA Cup with Cristiano Ronaldo missing a penalty. 

The FA Cup is famous for surprises of this nature, one reason why the competition stands out among its peers. 

It was a game that could be adjudged a one sided one with the Red Devils dominating possession but this did not translate into goals as United forwards kept misfiring at every given opportunity after Jadon Sancho's opener.

Jadon Sancho celebrates

The match would have been laid to rest in regulation time if Bruno Fenandez, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and a host of others took their chances. But that was not to be, rather it was Middlesbrough who struck with their first clear cut chance through Matt Cooks to drag the game into extra time.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty

The goal by Middlesbrough was highly criticized by fans who felt that Duncan Watmore who assisted Matt Cooks handled the ball in the 18 yard box but new rules on handball reveals that it was a clear goal. 

The new rule reveals that accidental handball will no longer be considered an offence. To be disallowed, the handball must be deliberate or the arm position not justifiable by the players body movement. If the player who accidentally handled the ball was the one that scored, it would not be a goal.

Duncan Watmore's handball

But for the fact that he provided an assist not a goal VAR would not overturn the on field decision. This rule was made by the International Football Association in March 2021.

According to Leicester City legend Gary Lineker, "Clearly accidental but if he had scored himself, it would have been disallowed. The handball rule used to be fine. They have made it ridiculous." He lamented.

Team mates console Elanga

After a pulsating penalty shootout that saw both teams on seven goals each, Anthony Elanga, a new member of the first team blasted his over the bar, handing victory over to Boro who proceeds to the next stage with United left to lick its wounds.