Fans furious Wout Weghorst wasn't sent off against Nottingham Forest after 'punching' Moussa Niakhate

Fans are furious as Wout Weghorst avoided a red card after striking Moussa Niakhate during Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester United.

Man United ran out 2-0 winners at the City Ground, with Antony and Diogo Dalot getting on the score-sheet to secure three big points.

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Weghorst entered the fray as a second-half substitute and got himself involved in a heated altercation with Forest defender Niakhate.

In stoppage time, Weghorst and Niakhate dueled for the ball, with the Dutchman seemingly hitting his opponent, who crumbled to the floor.

Weghorst was like kwasia don’t you know if I don’t score they won’t sign me pic.twitter.com/D8qz1NJ9qE

— 🔰ODK🔰 🔴⚫️⚪️ (@UTDOdenke) April 16, 2023

The Senegal international grabbed his head and rolled around the pitch, with match referee Simon Hooper brandishing a yellow card.

However, people on social media believe the 30-year-old should have received a red card for his conduct.

One Twitter user wrote: "That should be a red card, Weghorst tried to punch Niakhate."

A second tweeted: "Did Weghorst just punch him??"

A third added: "Nahh Weghorst threw a punch and only got a yellow."

A fourth said: "What is VAR doing, ignoring clear handball by Maguire & now a punch by Weghorst."

Another commented: "Weghorst should be getting a red card for that punch."

Weghorst escaped a red card despite appearing to strike Niakhate as VAR failed to intervene.

VAR also denied Forest a penalty as Harry Maguire seemed to handle the ball inside the box.

Steve Cooper bemoaned the decision as he believes his side should have been awarded a spot-kick in the first-half.

After the result, he said: "I definitely think it was a penalty from the Maguire incident, and then a second yellow.

"The ref should give it, I understand at this level and the type of incident why he did not give it. But I do not know how VAR did not spot it."