Fans baffled how Harry Maguire wasn't penalised for blatant handball against Nottingham Forest

Harry Maguire somehow got away with a blatant handball for Manchester United against Nottingham Forest.

Starting alongside Victor Lindelof at the heart of defence following the double injury blow to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, Maguire looked a little out of sorts early on at the City Ground.

He was booked for a tussle with Taiwo Awoniyi and then later on in the half the United skipper clumsily handled the ball inside the area.

The ball was floated in from a corner and Maguire got caught in a scramble. The ball quite clearly struck the England international's arm as he challenged for the ball in the area but no penalty was given despite a brief VAR check.

It's hard to keep up with the handball rule at the moment and what constitutes a deliberate action but plenty were stunned that a penalty was not awarded to the hosts.

One fan wrote: "At this point I don’t really know what is and isn’t a handball anymore. that Forest corner came in and hit nothing but Maguire’s high outstretched arm and it wasn’t given? I don’t get it."

A second concurred: "I don't understand the handball rule anymore. That was a handball by Maguire."

A third fumed: "We’ve seen handball for point blank shots but a cross that Maguire has forever to deal with and basically catches with his arm isn’t a penalty."

Another was left flabbergasted, writing: "Maguire’s handball. Not sure what else has to happen for that to be a penalty."

A final user opined: "Really have no idea what the refs/VAR are going to decide when there's a handball shout at the moment. Surely this is a penalty? Maguire arm above his shoulder...away from his body... stops the ball coming to McKenna three yards out... no pen?"

United went 1-0 up in the 32nd minute through Antony, who stabbed home the rebound after Anthony Martial's effort was pushed into danger by Keylor Navas.

Maguire was scolded by former United captain Roy Keane prior to the game, with the Irishman telling Sky Sports, "If you can't deal with Nottingham Forest's defence, maybe you shouldn't be at the club."

Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports

Topics: Harry Maguire, Manchester United

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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