Dean Henderson escaped punishment after handling the ball outside the box during the FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City
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Sport
17:33, 17 May 2025
Dean Henderson handles the ball outside the box
Dean Henderson avoided retrospective action during the FA Cup final despite handling the ball outside the box vs Man City
(Image: Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson escaped retrospective action against Manchester City due to the incident not being an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The incident occurred midway through the first-half, with Palace leading, when Henderson pushed away a bouncing loose ball with Erling Haaland.
City were left frustrated by the incident as the former Manchester United goalkeeper seemingly handled the ball outside the box. However, with the direction of play that the passage was going, it wasn't a goalscoring opportunity despite Henderson pushing the ball away.
Pep Guardiola's side dominated in the first-half but found themselves behind in the opening exchanges after Eberechi Eze converted on the counter-attacker.
Henderson, who was at his best on numerous occasions to keep the FA Cup favourites at bay, could have been sent off for his role in the incident which took the loose ball off the boot of the Norwegian talisman.
The MEN understands that the referee’s call of no red card was checked and confirmed by VAR.
The direction that Erling Haaland was going made it a possible but not an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
Ally McCoist, who was the co-commentator on the encounter at Wembley, was left aghast by the explanation that the direction that play was going, it was headed towards a wide area and therefore not denying a goalscoring opportunity.
"I tell you what, you can't tell. Hold on," he said.
"Hold on a minute now.
"Where he [Dean Henderson] touches that ball is a goalscoring opportunity.
"Where he puts it makes it a non-goalscoring opportunity but where the offence is committed is a goalscoring opportunity, surely?"
City continued to turn the screw and it was the Palace shot-stopper that proved to be the main source of frustration.
Henderson made three key saves and a save down to his right to deny Omar Marmoush from the penalty spot.
Tyriek Mitchell was penalised for a challenge on Bernardo Silva but City failed to grasp the opportunity to draw level.
Palace had a golden chance to double their lead with another counter-attack, however Jean-Philippe Mateta's effort was well-saved by Stefan Ortega.