Manchester United were due to sail to the last 16 of the English Cup, probably with Middlesbrough in the sub-league, but the Red Devils got into a bad night, a lot of bad luck and a surprising dismissal after a penalty shootout. In the 64th minute, Borough managed to equalize against the Red Devils despite a pretty clear hand touch from Duncan Watmore during a move that led to a Matt Crocs goal and from there to drama from the spot.
It turns out that in the summer the hand rule was changed once again according to which if a player touched the hand unintentionally and was only involved during the goal he was not disqualified. Gary Linker explained: “The right decision was made by the absurdity of the law. There is no doubt that this was an unintentional touch of Watmore’s hand, but if he had scored himself it would have been disqualified. The law of the hand was supposed to be good. They made it ridiculous. “
The right decision given the absurdity of the law. Clearly accidental but If he’d scored himself it would have been disallowed. The handball law used to be fine. They’ve made it ridiculous.
— Gary Lineker ???? (@GaryLineker) February 4, 2022
Not a handball ???????? pic.twitter.com/o8zBzV7edR
— Project Football (@ProjectFootball) February 4, 2022
Hand to ball…. How is that not a handball?? #fuckVAR pic.twitter.com/UzlKEGl2CL
— jimmy mckenna (@unorginalhandle) February 4, 2022
100% a handball ????
— DavidMeyler (@DavidMeyler) February 4, 2022
Dude controlled the ball with his hand ???????? pic.twitter.com/NJutGWXUBr
— (@Snjayy7) February 4, 2022
DISGRACEFUL DECISION!
THE HAND NOT ONLY SLOWED THE BALL DOWN BUT ALSO HELPED IT INTO DIRECTION!
CORRUPT!#MUFC pic.twitter.com/tbLwAOHeJA
— ManUtd Analytics ⚽ (@Utd_Analytics) February 4, 2022
Not handball…???? pic.twitter.com/XnlQzZQXVI
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) February 4, 2022