Controversy Erupts as VAR Declines Amad Diallo's Penalty Claim Against Bournemouth

Controversy Erupts as VAR Declines Amad Diallo's Penalty Claim Against Bournemouth

The Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel confirmed that both referee Stuart Attwell and video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson were correct in not awarding a penalty to Manchester United's Amad Diallo during their match against Bournemouth on March 20. Amad fell inside the box after Bournemouth defender Adrien Truffert allegedly placed two hands on him, but Attwell dismissed the appeals. This incident proved pivotal, as it occurred just before Ryan Christie scored for Bournemouth in the 67th minute, equalizing the match at 1-1 after United had taken a 1-0 lead. The KMI Panel conducted a split vote of 3-2 against awarding a penalty, noting that while Truffert's actions posed a risk, the contact did not meet the high threshold for a foul. The panel remarked that the contact was "not impactful." Despite two other penalties being awarded in the same game for holding offences, United expressed their anger post-match, suggesting they would file a formal complaint with the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO). Manager Michael Carrick criticized the inconsistency, pointing out the similarity between Amad's situation and an earlier penalty awarded for a foul on Matheus Cunha. Carrick stated, "So the Cunha one, he gives, the second one on Amad he doesn't... It's clear." Pundit Alan Shearer echoed Carrick's sentiments, questioning how another penalty was not given under similar circumstances, while the KMI Panel unanimously supported the decision not to overturn the non-penalty call, emphasizing the high standards required for VAR interventions.

Source: BBC Sport - 2026-04-02