The Premier League Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has ruled that both the referee and video assistant referee (VAR) were correct not to award a penalty to Manchester United's Amad Diallo in their draw at Bournemouth last month.
The Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has recently confirmed that the referee and video assistant referee (VAR) were correct in their decision not to award a penalty to Manchester United's Amad Diallo during their draw against Bournemouth last month.
During the match, Amad Diallo fell inside the area after Bournemouth defender Adrien Truffert seemed to place two hands on him. Despite this, Referee Stuart Attwell dismissed the penalty appeals. This decision was pivotal as it led to an immediate counter-attack from Bournemouth, resulting in Ryan Christie scoring in the 67th minute. Instead of United potentially taking a 2-0 lead, they found themselves pegged back to 1-1 at Vitality Stadium on March 20.
VAR and KMI panel verdict
Truffert's challenge was reviewed by VAR official Craig Pawson who concluded there was no clear and obvious error. The KMI Panel later supported this decision with a split vote of 3:2 against awarding a spot-kick on the field.
The panel noted that "whilst Truffert runs a risk, the contact made was not impactful and therefore below the high threshold for a foul". However, two panellists argued that Truffert's action was "non-footballing" and believed that a penalty should have been awarded.
Despite these differing opinions within the panel itself, they unanimously agreed with Pawson’s non-intervention approach stating it aligned with "the high threshold for VAR overturns".
Manchester United’s response
Manchester United expressed their frustration post-match indicating plans to lodge an official complaint with referees' body Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO). Their main concern revolved around consistency as two other penalties were awarded during this game for holding offences.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick described the decisions as "baffling", expressing confusion over why Attwell's decision did not align with an earlier penalty awarded to his team for a pull by Alex Jimenez on Matheus Cunha.
The incident involving Amad Diallo has sparked debate among sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike. While some agree with the KMI Panel's decision, others side with Manchester United’s argument for consistency in officiating. Regardless of differing opinions, this incident serves as a reminder of the crucial role that referees and VAR play in determining match outcomes.
