Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has dropped his telling verdict on Coventry City being denied a controversial late winner against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Coventry City were knocked out of the FA Cup after a penalty shootout defeat to Manchester United, despite causing quite the scare for the Red Devils.
United were leading Coventry 3-0 in the second half at Wembley on Sunday and seemed all but certain to reach the FA Cup in regular playing time.
However, Erik ten Hag’s men suffered a complete collapse late in the second half after Ellis Simms, Callum O’Hare and Haji Wright all scored for Coventry.
Coventry came close to sealing a sensational FA Cup upset over United after Victor Torp had the ball in the back of the net during injury time in extra time.
Haji Wright had played a low pass into the United box and Coventry teammate Victor Torp turned the ball past Red Devils No 1 Andre Onana with a first-time strike.
Coventry’s players wheeled away in celebration, only for VAR to intervene and rule that Wright was offside in the build-up to Torp’s strike.
United went on to beat Coventry 4-2 on penalties and Erik ten Hag’s side punched their ticket to the FA Cup final in May.
Gallagher on VAR and Coventry City
The Red Devils will now face Manchester City, who defeated Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday in the semi-finals, in a repeat of last season’s FA Cup final.
Erik ten Hag came within touching distance of the FA Cup in his debut season at Old Trafford, but Manchester United fell short to Manchester City at Wembley in 2023.
Speaking on Sky Sprots’ Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher was asked if VAR made the right call to intervene and overturn referee Robert Jones’ decision in the match.
According to Gallagher, VAR made a “factual decision” and Haji Wright was correctly ruled as being in an offside position.
“If he’d worn size eight boots instead of size 10, he would have been given onside,” he said.
“But it’s a factual decision.”
Gallagher talks Man Utd and Wan-Bissaka handball
Coventry forced the FA Cup tie into extra time in the first place after Robert Jones pointed to the spot in injury time and awarded a penalty against United.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka saw the decision against him after it was ruled that the United defender was at fault for handball, with Jones pointing to the spot.
Gallagher admitted that he did not agree with Jones’ decision to award a penalty and highlighted the “complexity of the handball situation” for referees.
“I didn’t think it was a penalty,” he said.
“This is the complexity of the handball situation. They’ve drilled down to get it precise but it’s actually made it more difficult for the officials.
“One thing you would say is the distance the ball travelled; Young was close to the cross but this one came from a lot further.”