Another week, another moment of VAR controversy in the Premier League.
Manchester United‘s home game with Nottingham Forest may not have had much riding on it, with United’s Champions League qualification and Forest’s survival secured, but it was nonetheless a competitive game — and one that included a hugely contentious goal.
With the scores at 1-1 in the second half, Bryan Mbeumo’s blocked shot fell kindly to Matheus Cunha, who placed a composed finish into the bottom-right corner.
Neither Cunha nor Mbeumo celebrated much initially, with both players seemingly expecting the goal to be disallowed for a handball offence. However, after a long VAR check, the goal was given, leading to bewildered fury among the Forest players and coaching staff.
MORE: Full commentary and highlights from Man United’s clash with Nottingham Forest
Why was Matheus Cunha’s goal not ruled out for a Bryan Mbeumo handball?
Before Cunha’s precise finish, Mbeumo had received a cross from Diogo Dalot and seen his shot on the turn blocked by the covering defenders.
Those Forest players immediately appealed to referee Michael Salisbury, insisting that Mbeumo had handled the ball. Replays clearly showed that Mbeumo, in trying to control Dalot’s cross, had trapped the ball between his right arm (by his side) and his hip.
Matthew Donohue, the VAR, recommended an on-field review. Usually, this results in the referee changing his initial decision. However, on this occasion, he allowed the goal to stand, stating via the stadium feed: “After review, the decision of goal stands because the handball offence is accidental, therefore the final decision is goal.”
Watch in USA:
Michael Salisbury confirms the Manchester United goal after the VAR review 🚨
🔴 Manchester United: 2
⚪️ Nottingham Forest: 1
⏱️ 57’ pic.twitter.com/96iVHw6iNU— USA Sports (@usasports) May 17, 2026
UK:
“It’s handball, it’s as simple as that!”
Micah Richards and Roy Keane “confused” by the decision to overrule a handball on Mbeumo in the build-up to Cunha’s goal. pic.twitter.com/S9uFJwIHXa
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 17, 2026
Was it correct to let Cunha’s goal stand?
Handball, as any fan will tell you, is one of the most contentious offences in the game often because it is so difficult to nail down an offence.
Very clear handball offences are rare, for obvious reasons — sticking your arm out to deliberately score, block a shot or otherwise interfere with the motion of the ball is quite an easy thing to spot.
The majority of handballs fall into a grey area, which is why they often come down to the subjective opinions of the officials. That’s what we ended up with here.
Salisbury’s reasoning was sound when you consider the rule book. According to regulations, “accidental handball that leads to a team-mate scoring a goal or having a goal-scoring opportunity will no longer be considered an offence”, as per an update in 2021. Salisbury decided that Mbeumo did not intentionally handle the ball, and his arm was by his side and therefore not in an unnatural position, so it was an egregious opinion.
There is also the fact that the ball deflects off Mbeumo’s hip first, which reinforces the argument that contact was accidental.
The counter-argument is that the vast majority of handballs are accidental, certainly in attacking play, and there is no doubt that Mbeumo brought the ball under control because it struck his arm. It’s also worth highlighting that, had Mbeumo himself scored, the goal would almost certainly have been disallowed for handball.
Reaction to Cunha goal, Mbeumo handball
Ex-Man United captain Gary Neville, on Sky Sports: “Honestly, that is ridiculous. The VAR has been clear: the player has handballed it. He looked at it for three minutes and the referee has looked at it for another minute.
“I can’t believe what I have just seen. That was handball. I don’t know what to say.”
Former assistant referee Darren Cann, via BBC Sport: “I feel that the expectation was for a handball to be given and a review was recommended by VAR Matt Donohue. Referee Michael Salisbury disagreed and awarded the goal.
“While I think that it is commendable to see a referee stick with his original decision — for only the fourth time in the Premier League this season — I believe that football’s expectation is Mbeumo controlling the ball, especially when it leads to a goal, outweighs the possible deflection off Mbeumo’s hip.”
This story will be updated.