Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson stayed on the pitch after a VAR check for handball in the FA Cup final against Manchester City
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Dean Henderson avoided a red card during Crystal Palace vs Man City in the FA Cup final
Dean Henderson was spared a red card(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Wayne Rooney felt Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson should have been sent off for handball outside the box in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Henderson slapped the ball away from in front of City striker Erling Haaland with the striker bearing down on goal. Referee Stuart Atwell didn't give a decision on the field but a VAR check led to a pause in play while VAR official Jarred Gillet scrutinised the play.
Ultimately, the officials decided that the direction in which Haaland is going made it a possible but not an obvious goalscoring opportunity and so Henderson was spared a dismissal.
He went on to save a penalty from Omar Marmoush later in the first half after Bernardo Silva was felled in the box.
And Rooney, analysing the game for BBC One, was flabbergasted that Henderson hadn't seen red for the handball.
"It's a red card, 100 per cent it is a red card," he said. "Haaland is about to knock it round him. He (Henderson) sweeps the ball away. It is a red card. How can they get this wrong?
"They have made a mistake so now they are trying to cover up. It is a red card and everyone can see it is a red card. To come out with all this rubbish."
Alan Shearer added: "The law is that he is running away from goal and he is but he is also stopping a possible goalscoring opportunity."
Slow motion replays appeared to show the Eagles goalkeeper handle the ball while his right foot was slightly outside his area. Despite this, the VAR chose not to send the referee to the screen.
Usually, when a goalkeeper handles the ball outside their penalty area, it is deemed a handball offence and the opposition is awarded a free kick. A yellow card is often shown to the goalie, however, a red can be shown if they deny a goalscoring opportunity.
The MEN understands that as guidance, the referee’s call of no red card was checked and confirmed by VAR. The direction that Haaland was going made it a possible but not an obvious goal scoring opportunity. A defender was also to the side of Haaland.
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