Manchester United might have claimed a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa – but the game at Old Trafford was not without controversy
Manchester United supporters were left furious with VAR for allowing Ross Barkley’s goal against their side to stand.
England international Barkley drew his Aston Villa side level at Old Trafford with a fine finish just after the hour mark. However, as the ball hit the back of the net, Amadou Onana was standing in an offside position that could be viewed as blocking Senne Lammens’ view.
But despite a VAR check taking place, the goal was awarded, with the Premier League Match Centre explaining that although Onana was in an offside position, he was deemed not to be in Lammens’ line of vision or to have touched the ball.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
A post on X read: “The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Onana in offside position, but not deemed to be in the goalkeeper’s line of vision or to have touched the ball.”
But United supporters, despite their side’s 3-1 victory, were furious that the goal had been allowed to stand, with one saying on X: “Onana is in the way of the keeper whilst offside and the ball touched him.”
Another said: “Onana just gestured the ball touched him….”
A third added: “I’m pretty sure Onana genuinely did touch it but it’s so fine margins I have nothing against the goal being given.”
While a fourth remarked: “Doesn’t touch Onana “No conclusive proof” but in moving his body away or towards the ball, fools/tricks the keeper, therefore is interfering with play and is offside, surely?”
A fifth said: “That’s a disgraceful decision. Even if it doesn’t touch Onana he is standing straight in front of the goalkeeper.”
Speaking on Sky Sports commentary, Gary Neville suggested that Onana had admitted he touched the ball after the goal was given.
He said: “There’s a look there, maybe Onana. Is he blocking Lammens? That would be really harsh, Lammens has no chance on this.
“Absolutely no chance, the hit from Ross Barkley is so true. I think that would be extremely harsh, I can’t believe that is going to be.
“Has it hit his back, has it flicked him? How can you see? It’s impossible to tell whether that hits Onana or not really. It’s very close to him, that’s for sure.
“VAR confirming, we can hear them from Stockley Park, saying they are looking to see if there is any flick off Onana.
“That is where I got to with it, you can not be sure that the ball has hit Onana. Only he would know and he is unlikely to admit it. Oh, has he just said it did?”