Real Betis’ first-half equaliser against Manchester United in Thursday’s Europa League clash was allowed to stand after assister Juanmi’s handball in the build-up was deemed accidental.
Former Newcastle and Leicester striker Ayoze Perez fired in a 32nd-minute leveller to cancel out Marcus Rashford’s opener. Before supplying Perez, the ball seemed to flick off the arm of Juanmi after the winger had tried to chest the ball down.
Raphael Varane lifted his arm in protest while still trying to defend but a VAR check determined that the goal would stand. Accidental handball constitutes when the ball ricochets off another body part before hitting the arm below the T-shirt line.
