Manchester United fans have moaned about VAR on social media after Real Sociedad were awarded a controversial penalty in their Europa League clash
20:24, 13 Mar 2025Updated 20:38, 13 Mar 2025
Manchester United fans have moaned they're 'fed up' with VAR after Real Sociedad were awarded a controversial penalty.
The Spanish side were on the attack when Mikel Oyarzabal was bundled down by Matthijs de Ligt - the Spaniard was injured in the build-up, and initially the challenge was waved away.
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However, VAR spotted the foul during the replays and instructed French referee Benoit Bastien to go over to the monitor. Oyarzabal was the coolest man in Old Trafford, rolling the ball into the far right corner of the net.
"No way is that a penalty. Oyarzabal is all over the back of De Ligt and tries to reach the ball from behind him. Anywhere else on the pitch it’s a foul on De Ligt. So, so fed up of these decisions," one fan fumed.
"Always shenanigans against these Spanish teams man. Rancid," a second posted. While a third said: "VAR is a joke! How’s that a pen when he went in front of De Ligt?"
Mikel Oyarzabal
Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the spot
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And another added: "How many dubious VAR penalties do the officials want to gift Sociedad in this tie? Every time we’re in Europe we get done by the refs!"
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Dion Dublin said: "I've seen some free-kicks for a very similar offence. The ball is coming across and Matthijs de Ligt has not seen the leg of Mikel Oyarzabal."
He added: "It's a tough one on Matthijs de Ligt. Mikel Oyarzabal, no nerves at all. He strokes it to Andre Onana's left. A very confident goal. The referee got it right!"
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However, six minutes later, the Red Devils would be the beneficiaries of a VAR decision when Rasmus Hojlund was taken down by Reala defender Igor Zubeldia.
Hojlund should have scored - and he was lucky to have been handed a second chance via Bruno Fernandes fro the spot.
Fernandes rolled the ball past Álex Remiro to level the tie.