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Luke Shaw Claims Referee Didn't Award Penalty Through Fear Of Controversy

Luke Shaw Claims Referee Didn't Award Penalty Through Fear Of Controversy

Callum Hudson-Odoi was adjudged to have not handled the ball in the box in the first half, though Shaw claimed controversy.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Luke Shaw claimed that referee Stuart Attwell only denied Manchester United a first half penalty against Chelsea through fear of what people would say.

United felt they should have had a penalty early in the first half when it looked like Callum Hudson-Odoi hit the ball with his arm, after Edouard Mendy punched away a free kick from Marcus Rashford.

Attwell wasn't interested in the initial calls fora penalty but the VAR official called him to look at the screen as he felt it should have been a spot kick.

The referee had other thoughts though and waved away the claims for a second time, with the game eventually ending 0-0.

After the match Shaw, who was once again one of United's better players, spoke to Sky Sports and claimed that the ref had told Harry Maguire he couldn't give the penalty because of how people would react to it.

"If it's not going to be a penalty, l don't think they needed to stop the game," the former Southampton full-back complained.

"The ref even said to H [Harry Maguire] that 'if I say it is a pen then it is going to cause a lot of talk afterwards'. H got told it was a penalty.

"I don't understand why the game is stopped. It's confusing with VAR.

"I'm not going to moan about it because l don't think either team did enough to win.

"We needed to win because the gap is getting closer, but we didn't.

"There wasn't too many chances from either side. We wanted to win but they are a very good team.

"We need to move on because we have another big game in midweek."

Stuart Attwell checks the screen. Image: PA Images
Stuart Attwell checks the screen. Image: PA Images

After the match Thomas Tuchel was adamant that it wasn't a penalty, saying Mason Greenwood touched the ball with his arm first, whilst Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was certain his side were denied two points by not being given the penalty.

The two sides drew 0-0 earlier in the season at Old Trafford as well, and in that game it was the Blues, then managed by Frank Lampard, who should have had a penalty.

Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports

Topics: Chelsea, Football, Manchester United, Premier League, Luke Shaw, VAR