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PGMO admits handball error on Man Utd goal v Forest

Manchester United's second goal in Sunday's Premier League win over Nottingham Forest should have been disallowed for handball, Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) has admitted. The referees' body contacted Forest on Monday to confirm there had been a misjudgement by referee Michael Salisbury, who rejected a video assistant referee (VAR) review to rule out the goal. The ball came off the arm of United forward Bryan Mbeumo before the Cameroon international saw a shot blocked by a defender. Team-mate Matheus Cunha moved on to the loose ball and fired a shot past Forest keeper Matz Sels to score. Salisbury was sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR, Matt Donohue, to disallow the goal. But Salisbury decided the handball was accidental and stuck by his on-field decision of goal. It put United 2-1 up in a game they went on to win 3-2. "From the angle I was standing at, it looked like he caught the ball," Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White said after the game. "Whether he scores or not, for me it was still a handball." Referees' boss Howard Webb spoke to Forest to explain that while there could be justifiable reasons to judge this was not handball, a better decision, and one that

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May 20, 2026
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May 20, 2026·BBCT2 · Outlet report
Referee Michael Salisbury not selected for final Premier League matchday

The referee for Manchester United's win over Nottingham Forest last Sunday has not been selected for any match in the final round of Premier League fixtures. Michael Salisbury allowed Matheus Cunha's goal for United to stand, despite Bryan…

Read original at BBC →
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May 20, 2026·BBCT2 · Outlet reportLATEST
Referee Michael Salisbury not selected for final Premier League matchday

The referee for Manchester United's win over Nottingham Forest last Sunday has not been selected for any match in the final round of Premier League fixtures. Michael Salisbury allowed Matheus Cunha's goal for United to…

Read original at BBC →
May 18, 2026·BBCT2 · Outlet reportOPENING
PGMO admits handball error on Man Utd goal v Forest

Manchester United's second goal in Sunday's Premier League win over Nottingham Forest should have been disallowed for handball, Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) has admitted. The referees' body contacted Forest…

Read original at BBC →

Sources & evidence (2)

What this story stands on. Tier 0 is a primary record or the subject's own words; higher tiers must be attributed, never stated as bare fact.

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T2 · Outlet reportBBCMay 20, 2026

The referee for Manchester United's win over Nottingham Forest last Sunday has not been selected for any match in the final round of Premier League fixtures. Michael Salisbury allowed Matheus Cunha's goal for United to stand, despite Bryan…

View source →
T2 · Outlet reportBBCMay 18, 2026

Manchester United's second goal in Sunday's Premier League win over Nottingham Forest should have been disallowed for handball, Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) has admitted. The referees' body contacted Forest on Monday to confirm…

View source →

Tier key: T0 = Primary source · T1 = Wire · T2 = Outlet report · T3 = Commentary

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