UEFA issues official explanation for Man Utd VAR goal

PSG TEAMtalk

UEFA has issued an explanation for the late penalty award for handball which helped seal Manchester United’s passage to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Referee Damir Skomina was alerted by the video assistant referee under the ‘serious missed incident’ VAR protocol, and after viewing replays he awarded the spot-kick against Paris St Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe because “his arm was not close to his body” when Diogo Dalot’s shot struck it.

“Following the on-field review, the referee confirmed that the distance that the ball travelled was not short and the impact could therefore not be unexpected,” guidance issued by UEFA on Friday morning read.

“The defender’s arm was not close to the body, which made the defender’s body bigger thus resulting in the ball being stopped from travelling in the direction of the goal. The referee, therefore, awarded a penalty kick.”

Marcus Rashford scored the penalty to take United through on away goals.