Jack Grealish was on the receiving end of a controversial handball decision that allowed Manchester United to get back on level terms in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
The match got off to an electric start as City captain Ilkay Gundogan fired home after just 12 seconds. Pep Guardiola’s side enjoyed a period of dominance as a shell-shocked United looked to recover from the surprise early setback in the Wembley showdown.
However, United were soon given a route back into the game after referee Paul Tierney, assisted by VAR, penalised Grealish and City for handball. After losing out on a header to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the ball flicked off the winger’s fingers and ultimately led to Bruno Fernandes scoring United’s equaliser from the spot.
The laws of the game dictate that a penalty may be awarded if a player is deemed to have touched the ball with their hand after making their body “unnaturally bigger”. That term is defined as when the player’s body movement is not a consequence of or justifiable for that specific situation, which referee Tierney believed was the case when he pointed to the spot.
City felt further aggrieved when they were denied a spot kick of their own, later on in the first half. Kevin De Bruyne was challenged by Fred in the box and BBC commentator Jermaine Jenas believed that United were fortunate to not also see the referee point to the spot, but believes it wasn't given as Fred was just planting his foot to roll away from the Belgian.
“From what I saw Fred clearly stepped across De Bruyne’s leg as he was about to run onto it,” he said. “There’s an argument to say he might be planting his leg to roll him but I think the fact that De Bruyne’s about to run onto it and hit it, it looked like a penalty to me initially, I have to say.
Regarding the handball given against Grealish, Jenas branded it a “poor” decision but admitted that he was unsurprised. “You don’t want to see these given but this is the state of the game right now,” he said.
“The ball touches your hand, it’s given. He’s jumping to try and defend for his team, he’s spinning in the air, is he supposed to do all of that with his hands by his side? It’s ridiculous, it really is.”
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