The latest Manchester City news after a controversial VAR check for a potential red card during the FA Cup final, following an incident involving Erling Haaland and Dean Henderson
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Dean Henderson palms the ball to push it away from Erling Haaland during the FA Cup Final
Erling Haaland was inches away from beating Dean Henderson to the ball
(Image: Getty Images)
Ally McCoist and Alan Shearer delivered differing verdicts on the lack of a red card for Dean Henderson during the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Crystal Palace.
McCoist was working at Wembley Stadium as the co-commentator on ITV's coverage, with Shearer assuming the same role for the BBC. They both, therefore, delivered their immediate reactions to the incident involving Erling Haaland and the Crystal Palace goalkeeper.
As the Manchester City striker ran onto a bouncing ball, Henderson palmed it out of his path before Haaland stretched out his left leg to touch it down. The debate, though, centred around whether the 'keeper denied a goalscoring opportunity in doing so.
"Where he touches that ball is a goalscoring opportunity," McCoist said on ITV. "Where he puts it makes it a non-goalscoring opportunity, but where the offence is committed is a goalscoring opportunity, surely.
Simultaneously on BBC, Shearer said: "The keeper was caught in two minds then. Dean Henderson nearly got done.
"There's no doubt that Dean Henderson touches that with his hand. It is clear to me that Erling Haaland is going away from the goal."
Wayne Rooney described it as a "100% red card", which Micah Richards agreed with during half-time coverage on the BBC. Ian Wright, Joleon Lescott and Roy Keane were also in agreement on ITV.
The Manchester Evening News understands that Haaland's direction of travel meant it was not deemed to be an obvious goalscoring opportunity, only a possible one.
Had referee Stuart Attwell decided it had been an instance of denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, VAR would have reviewed it. However, as they did not deem it to be, VAR checked and confirmed the call of no red card.
Jarred Gillett was the video assistant referee. Darren Cann was the assistant VAR, and Michael Salisbury was the support VAR.
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