Man Utd VAR decision vs Brentford given 'misinformation' update after Premier League post

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The justification for Nathan Collins avoiding a red card during Manchester United's clash has received a potentially mortifying review after their 3-1 loss to Brentford. Ruben Amorim's team couldn't secure consecutive victories, leaving themselves with a steep challenge in the capital as Bruno Fernandes squandered a second-half spot-kick.

It was how the Bees gave away the penalty that has caused controversy. Matheus Cunha delivered the ball to Bryan Mbeumo, who had a clear view of goal, before being dragged down in the box by Collins.

The spot-kick was awarded and the Republic of Ireland defender received a yellow card for hauling down the Cameroon striker, but after clarification from the Premier League Match Centre X account, a community note has appeared on the post.

Originally, the account explained why Collins escaped dismissal, stating: "The referee's call of penalty was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Collins deemed to pulled Mbeumo back.

"VAR also checked the referee's call of yellow card to Collins - and deemed that Mbeumo wasn't in control of the ball."

Nevertheless, a community note - a feature of the social media platform introduced to prevent misinformation spreading rapidly - apparently dismissed the idea that Collins avoided red because it was judged that the United player "wasn't in control of the ball".

Premium subscribers of the platform can add community notes when they can demonstrate that the original statement is false. Citing the International Football Association Board (IFAB) laws of the game, a counter-argument was presented which stated: "Control of the ball is not required for a red card.

"For DOGSO (denial of a goalscoring opportunity), referees consider distance to goal, direction of play, likelihood of keeping/gaining the ball, and defenders' positions. It's about likelihood, not current control."

The IFAB laws specify: "Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.), the offending player must be sent off."

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Within the match context, Collins stayed on the pitch when the dismissal would have boosted United.

Whilst there's no certainty that Fernandes would have converted the spot-kick regardless, it might well have assisted their fightback from the 2-1 deficit - which ultimately became three when Mathias Jensen wrapped up matters in the fifth minute of added time.

Amorim discussed the incident after the match but was determined not to be sidetracked from the outcome.

"The referee told me that Bryan was not in control of the ball," Amorim said via the BBC Sport.

"You [the media] can say what happened. I don't want to talk about the referee."

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