In a stunning development after Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, a match official has made explosive allegations about a controversial penalty decision that has fueled major outrage.
“There was major miscommunication — I was directly instructed not to award Manchester United the penalty,” the referee revealed.
“Now, just hours later, I’m being blamed! That was a clear penalty, everyone saw it. I made the call but got overruled — plain and simple.
Point the finger at whoever issued the order, not at me. United were absolutely robbed, and now I’m being scapegoated. It’s a total mess and completely unfair!”
The controversy centers around a reckless two-footed challenge by Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams on Alejandro Garnacho.
Referee Peter Bankes initially gave only a yellow card, a decision backed by VAR and later defended by the Premier League’s Match Centre X account — leaving United fans furious who believed it should’ve been a straight red.
Tensions were made worse by two penalty claims involving Harry Maguire that were also dismissed without VAR intervention.
The match ended with a late equalizer from Manchester United’s Rasmus Højlund, salvaging a point.
This incident adds to a growing list of controversial decisions against Manchester United, including a previous wrong penalty call in a game against West Ham, which PGMOL chief Howard Webb later admitted was incorrect.
With frustrations building, there are increasing calls from fans and the club for more transparency and accountability in refereeing to protect the integrity of the game.
Huge if true—
If a referee is openly claiming he was instructed not to give a penalty, this could signal not just poor officiating but potential deep-rooted corruption.
