Sports
Mark Halsey Questions Bryan Mbeumo’s Man Utd Handball vs Forest
It seems as though every week in the Premier League, a new VAR drama emerges. The most recent notable incident occurred during Manchester United’s 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Luke Shaw’s early strike gave the home team a 1-0 lead at Old Trafford, but Elliot Anderson found the head of Morato, who levelled the scores soon after the break. It took just two minutes, however, for the Red Devils to re-take the lead through Matheus Cunha.
Bryan Mbeumo then gave Man Utd a two-goal cushion, finding the back of the net thanks to Bruno Fernandes’ record-matching 20th Premier League assist of the season. This time, Forest took just two minutes to respond, as Morgan Gibbs-White’s tidy finish made for a nervy finish.
Michael Carrick’s team clung onto their 3-2 lead and picked up all three points. With it being such a tight final result, though, it made one VAR call even more controversial.
Mark Halsey Slams Man Utd vs Nottingham Forest Decision
When Cunha put Man Utd 2-1 in the 54th minute, he did so with a bit of help from the officials. Indeed, the ball clearly hit Mbeumo during the build-up. VAR reviewed the incident for three minutes before referee Michael Salisbury was sent the pitch-side monitor.
Despite this, Salisbury stood by his original decision and allowed the goal to stand. This was a surprise to Sky Sports co-commentator Gary Neville, who said: “I think that is an absolute shocker in every single way. “It’s ridiculous. The VAR have been quite clear, they said it has to be disallowed. He has handballed it and brought the ball back into play.”
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey, who worked in the top flight between 1999 and 2013, has now weighed in on the matter with a strong verdict. In his column for the Sun, he claimed that this was a big mistake by the officials, stating:
“Matheus Cunha’s controversial goal should have been disallowed. Bryan Mbeumo clearly controlled the ball with his arm and that action paved the way for Cunha to hit the back of the net.
“Manchester United forward Mbeumo had time to react by removing his arm. The fact that the ball clearly struck his arm enabled the Cameroonian to control the ball and get his shot away, with Cunha scoring the rebound. If the ball had not hit him, it would have continued travelling past him.
“United’s players did not even celebrate when the ball hit the net — which tells you everything. The easiest decision would have been for Michael Salisbury to award Nottingham Forest a free-kick.”
Premier League Speak Out as Cunha’s Goal in Man Utd v Forest is Allowed to Stand
The Premier League have spoken out after referee Michael Salisbury overruled VAR and gave the goal.
Halsey Questions PGMOL Interpretation of Handball Law
PGMOL expert Dale Johnson explained that VAR only allowed the goal to stand before Mbuemo didn’t score himself after the handball, which meant the officials were able to make a ‘subjective judgement of the handball offence’ from Cunha. He wrote:
“Mbuemo’s shot had gone in, the goal would have to be disallowed. Because it was blocked, it can be allowed to stand and becomes a subjective judgement of the handball offence.”
Halsey, however, suggested that the current handball law, simply isn’t clear enough. He claimed that PGMOL need to sort it out this summer, adding: “I like to see referees stick with on-field decisions when they view incidents on pitchside monitors, but I believe that was the wrong outcome.
“Forest boss Vitor Pereira understandably seemed dismayed by the decision and called for a Premier League summit to discuss handballs.
“I agree with him that we need to sort out the interpretation of offences that fall under law 12, for handling the ball, as fans have had enough. The debate once again sparked confusion around the handball law, with supporters left frustrated by what is and is not being punished in the modern game.
“Pereira’s calls for clarity are hard to ignore because incidents like this are damaging confidence in VAR and leaving fans, players and managers baffled week after week. With the final game of the Premier League next week, hopefully the PGMOL can get together in the summer and sort this out.”
One way to fix this would be to become much stricter with handball calls, as we see in the Champions League. Roberto Rosetti, UEFA’s head of referees, actually wants the law applied evenly across all competitions next season, which could see a change in the Premier League.
That interpretation of the law is quite unpopular among English fans who watch the Champions League, so it remains to be seen if PGMOL adopt the approach.
Sports
Dana White Reveals Why UFC Legend Anderson Silva Hates Him
UFC CEO Dana White has revealed that one company legend, who is frequently included in the GOAT debate, now hates him so much that he refuses to speak to him.
The veteran matchmaker has been in charge of the world’s mixed martial arts organisation for 25 years, having initially bought into the company in 2001. While Dana hasn’t always been popular with his fighters, he’s typically kept a positive relationship with most of its top stars.
White is on good terms with the likes of Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier and remains cordial with many others, even after having disagreements.
UFC Legend Refuses to Speak to White
However, in a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Dana admitted that one icon of the Octagon “won’t talk to me to this day” over the way his run with the company ended.
No matter how dominant a fighter is, there comes a time in every competitor’s career when the skills that they once dazzled with have faded.
Across his quarter of a century, White has had to have numerous conversations with fighters who have passed their prime about stepping away from being an active UFC fighter.
Understandably, these are not easy talks to have, but the competitors involved usually realise that their time in the spotlight is coming to an end and generally don’t hold too much of a grudge against Dana for suggesting that they should hang up their gloves.
10 Fighters Dana White Has Banned From UFC For Life – And Why He Banned Them
Don’t ever get on the wrong side of Dana White, or you risk being banned for life from the UFC, just like these select fighters.
Dana White Made A Big Call About UFC Legend – It Ruined Their Relationship
This is not the case when it comes to former UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva, though. Widely considered to be the greatest 185lbs fighter the UFC has ever seen, ‘The Spider’ went unbeaten for 16 fights after debuting for the promotion in June 2006, including a record 10 successful defences of the middleweight championship.
Silva was an incredible fighter to watch in his prime, but his style was heavily dependent on his reflexes. When these began to fade with age, Anderson’s aura of invincibility disappeared with them.
After suffering his first UFC loss to Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in July 162, Anderson would pick up just one single win across the next seven years.
By the time he fought Uriah Hall in October 2020, Silva was 45 years old. When he fell to a fourth-round stoppage defeat, Dana insisted that he would never promote another fight involving the Brazilian.
White stuck to his word, even though it seemingly ruined the pair’s relationship forever.
“Anderson Silva, he was always a unique individual to deal with, but he lost like eight or nine or 10 in a row, something like that,” White recalled. [Silva actually lost seven of his last nine UFC bouts.]
“That guy won’t talk to me to this day. Because I said it’s over and he was in his 40s.”
Dana continued: “His thing was ‘who are you to tell me that I’m done doing what I love to do?’ [I told him] it’s over. Obviously, they can go fight [somewhere else] and he did. He went and fought a boxing match and he fought a bunch of other fights.
“He can still fight. You just can’t do it here.”
Now 51 years old, Silva continues to compete, alongside training to be a police officer. His most recent fight saw him knock out former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley in a boxing match in December of last year.
It’s now nearly six years since he last fought for the UFC, but he’s still seemingly no closer to forgiving Dana.
Sports
Man Utd Pull Out of Move to Sign Elliot Anderson
Manchester United have pulled out of a potential move to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson following a big U-turn, according to the Mirror.
Man United have made strengthening their central midfield the priority this summer, with one report suggesting they could look to bring in three new players for the position, if Manuel Ugarte joins Casemiro in leaving the club.
The Red Devils want to bring in a top-class replacement for the Brazilian, while two lower-cost options could arrive at Old Trafford in the coming months to boost a squad that will be playing Champions League football for the first time since the 2023-24 campaign.
United had identified Anderson as their number one target for the midfield position, according to GIVEMESPORT sources, following an outstanding season for Forest which has culminated in him becoming a regular England starter ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The chances of the 23-year-old still being at the City Ground appear to be diminishing as his stock continues to rise, although it is also looking like he won’t be wearing a red shirt at Old Trafford next term either.
Man United ‘Concede Defeat’ in Elliot Anderson Transfer Battle
According to the Mirror, Manchester United chiefs are not willing to meet Forest’s £100m valuation of their top summer target, even though he is a player they really want.
The price tag isn’t the only reason for the Red Devils walking away from a move though, with club chiefs believing that the ‘elite’ Three Lions star would prefer to join Manchester City instead of them.
The Premier League runners-up are said to be confident they will land Anderson, despite the fact that Pep Guardiola is set to be replaced by Enzo Maresca at the Etihad Stadium this summer.
The Italian has given the green light to bring the former Newcastle United star to the club as one of his first signings.
Who Could Man United Sign Instead?
With a deal for Anderson off the table, United now have to look elsewhere to complete their midfield rebuild.
Reports on Wednesday afternoon suggest they have agreed a £38m deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta, with an agreement on personal terms with the Brazilian already reached, according to GMS sources.
Two more players could arrive though, with a report in Italy suggesting that Michael Carrick has told the club to sign Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali too, with the 26-year-old one of the best in his position in the Premier League.
The Italy international won’t come on the cheap though, with the Magpies said to value him at up to €100m (£86m).
The Red Devils will look at another low-cost option too, with three Championship players among those linked.
Southampton’s Shea Charles and Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney have been mentioned, along with the recently-relegated Mateus Fernandes of West Ham United.
The Mirror claim that Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba and Real Madrid duo Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde are also on their shortlist.
Sports
Anthony Gordon’s Wage After Leaving Newcastle For Barcelona Emerges
The summer transfer saga involving Anthony Gordon is already set to come to an end, after Newcastle United accepted a mega-money offer from Barcelona for the winger.
GIVEMESPORT sources understand a deal has been agreed worth in around £70m, plus a future sell-on clause for the England international, who will jet out to Spain to complete a medical before finalising a deal before the World Cup.
That’s despite major interest from Bayern Munich and Premier League clubs about a move, with Newcastle in a position where they were forced to listen to offers after a poor season in the Premier League meant they missed out on European football entirely.
Anthony Gordon Barcelona Contract Details Revealed
According to The Chronicle Live, the Magpies received two rival bids on Wednesday for the 25-year-old’s services – one from Barcelona, and one from Bayern Munich.
But the Bundesliga champions were blown out of the water, and refused to match Barcelona’s bid, which allowed the Catalan club to seal an agreement and get a deal over the line, with a deal worth £69.3m including add-ons.
It’s reported that Gordon has already said goodbye to his teammates, and in a stunning update, he is now set to see his wages doubled to around £300,000-a-week at the Camp Nou.
Gordon was left out of the Newcastle side since the clash with Crystal Palace back in April, with Eddie Howe admitting that they were ‘planning for the future’ with his absence. Now a deal has been agreed, and the club will get the financial injection they were looking for to help them bolster their own squad, while also hoping to keep hold of other stars.
Gordon One of England’s Highest-Paid Players
With Gordon set to earn around £300,000-a-week in Spain as part of his agreement with the club, he is expected to climb the list of England’s highest-paid players as a result.
Currently, the country’s top earner is Ivan Toney, who takes home a whopping £427,670-a-week from Saudi club Al-Ahli. His form has somewhat justified the money, netting an impressive 42 goals in 49 appearances, and earning a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup.
Behind him is Harry Kane, who earns £419,120-a-week at Bayern Munich, while Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham earns around £350,000-a-week in the Spanish capital. But Gordon would slot into the list just behind him, and alongside the likes of Jack Grealish and Bukayo Saka once he puts pen to paper on his new deal.
Romano: £75m Newcastle Star Reaches ‘Total Agreement’ to Join Barcelona
Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon is a target for Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Barcelona this summer
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