The Premier League has admitted to an error that cost Manchester United three points during their game against Burnley earlier this month.
The Key Match Incidents panel accepted after an investigation that United wrongly had a goal overruled, which consequently cost the Red Devils an opportunity to secure victory at Turf Moor.
The Red Devils have missed several opportunities to climb up the league table this season, with December being a challenging month for the team as they failed to take maximum points from several winnable games.
Man United drew with West Ham, Bournemouth, Wolves, Leeds and Burnley between December and January – and it’s hard not to think about where United would be in the standings if they won several of those matches.
Indeed, some of those results also led to Ruben Amorim’s firing, with the Portuguese coach given his marching orders on January 5, less than 24 hours after United drew 1-1 with Leeds.
Now, the latest update from the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel suggests the team – as well as former head coach Amorim – have every right to feel bad about United’s 2-2 draw with Burnley.
Lisandro Martinez goal against Burnley was wrongfully canceled
Manchester United fans were left disappointed when Darren Fletcher’s first match as caretaker manager ended in a draw, after Ayden Heaven’s own goal gifted Burnley a lead.
Benjamin Sesko then scored a brace in the second half, but Jaidon Anthony’s equaliser made it 2-2 before the end.
However, Lisandro Martinez thought he had levelled the scoreline in the 27th minute after netting from a corner. But the referee blew for a foul by the World Cup winner on Kyle Walker, which happened a few seconds before the ball crossed the line.
While reviewing the incident, the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel voted 3-2 that it was not a foul and it should have been a goal. But the panel also supported the decision of VAR official Craig Pawson not to intervene.
The KMI panel panel felt that “the contact was exaggerated by Walker and the decision to disallow the goal for a foul was incorrect,” according to BBC Sport.
“The decision not to intervene by VAR was split but supported on the basis it wasn’t a clear and obvious error,” the statement added.
