The Premier League Key Match Incidents Panel has ruled that officials were correct not to award a penalty to Amad Diallo during Manchester United’s draw against AFC Bournemouth last month.
The incident occurred when Amad went down inside the penalty area after contact from Bournemouth defender Adrien Truffert. Referee Stuart Attwell waved away the appeals, with VAR also deciding there was no clear error.
Panel divided on decision
The panel reviewed the incident and voted 3–2 against awarding a penalty. Members noted that although Truffert took a risk by placing his hands on Amad, the contact was not considered strong enough to meet the threshold for a foul.
Two members disagreed, saying the action was “non-footballing” and believed a penalty should have been given.
However, the panel unanimously supported the decision not to intervene through VAR, stating it matched the high standard required to overturn an on-field decision.
United unhappy with consistency
The moment proved crucial in the match at Vitality Stadium on 20 March. Instead of taking a potential 2-0 lead, United conceded shortly afterwards when Ryan Christie scored to make it 1-1.
United manager Michael Carrick criticised the decision after the game, arguing that similar holding incidents had already resulted in penalties earlier in the match.
Carrick said the situation was “baffling” and questioned why a penalty given for a shirt pull on Matheus Cunha by Alex Jimenez was judged differently from the challenge on Amad.
Other decisions supported
The panel unanimously supported the earlier penalty awarded to Cunha, stating that Jimenez clearly pulled the striker’s shirt in a non-footballing manner.
Another late penalty in the game—awarded after Harry Maguire pulled Evanilson—was backed by a 4–1 vote. Junior Kroupi converted the spot-kick to secure a 2-2 draw for Bournemouth.
Across the Premier League’s Gameweek 31 reviews, the panel recorded only one on-field error, involving a penalty incident in a match between Chelsea and Everton.
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