In a shocking twist after Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, match referee Chris Kavanagh has come forward with serious claims about the disallowed goal by United defender Harry Maguire.
Kavanagh alleges he was directed by senior officials to rule out the goal—even though he believed it should have stood.
“I never thought it was offside,” Kavanagh said. “It was crystal clear to me—but I was instructed to disallow it. I still don’t understand why.
One thing I do know: VAR didn’t just get it wrong—they favored Chelsea. That goal was unjustly taken away. I’m ready to expose the truth.”
The controversial moment happened in the 16th minute when Maguire appeared to score with a well-placed strike. VAR, however, ruled him offside based on the position of his knee and foot.
Outrage erupted online, with fans claiming the offside lines were drawn incorrectly—suggesting Marc Cucurella, not the judged defender, was actually playing Maguire onside.
Kavanagh’s statements have only fueled the uproar, prompting widespread calls for a full investigation into the match’s officiating.
He stressed the importance of clarity and fairness in the game, saying, “This game needs to be reviewed. Football’s integrity is on the line.”
Neither the Premier League nor the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has issued an official response to the claims.
Meanwhile, the incident has reignited fierce debate over the reliability and impartiality of VAR in the league.
Chelsea’s victory, sealed by a 71st-minute header from Cucurella, keeps their Champions League ambitions alive. Manchester United, on the other hand, extends their winless streak to eight league matches—their worst run since the 1989–90 season.
With the football world waiting for answers, the spotlight is firmly on VAR and the integrity of those behind the decisions.
If Kavanagh’s accusations are substantiated, this could become one of the most explosive officiating scandals in Premier League history—a referee claiming he was overruled by higher authorities despite believing the goal was fair raises serious questions about transparency, integrity, and potential bias within VAR operations.
