Dean Henderson’s FA Cup final handball should have been a red according to a former referee — a decision that could’ve changed the game
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Dean Henderson avoided a red card during Crystal Palace vs Man City in the FA Cup final
Dean Henderson avoided a red card during Crystal Palace vs Man City in the FA Cup final
(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has given his brutal verdict on Dean Henderson's controversial handball incident in the FA Cup final.
Crystal Palace beat Manchester City at Wembley, despite Pep Guardiola's side dominating the majority of the game. Eberechi Eze's early counter attack goal was all the Eagles needed to take victory, but an incident involving Erling Haaland and Palace goalkeeper Henderson has left City fans frustrated.
The former Manchester United goalie had handled a bouncing ball that Haaland was chasing at the edge of the Palace penalty area. Although no immediate complaints were made, slow motion replays seemed to show Henderson's foot was outside of his box when pushing the ball away.
VAR chose not to send referee Stuart Attwell to the screen as they deemed the ball to be moving away from the goal, leading it to not being labelled a goal-scoring opportunity. Retired referee Gallagher thinks differently.
"I thought it was a red card for a few reasons," he told Sky Sports News. "Firstly, he's deliberately handled the ball. Second, Haaland is moving towards goal.
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, clashes with Dean Henderson of Crystal Palace and Oliver Glasner, Manager of Crystal Palace, following the Emirates FA Cup Final
Pep Guardiola and Dean Henderson clashed on the pitch after the FA Cup final
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"And then people talk about the direction of the ball, it only travels wide because Henderson slapped it away. If Henderson hadn't slapped it, Haaland would have had a direct route to goal. He's very very lucky."
Ally McCoist, who was co-commentating the final, also thought it was a sending off at the time as he said: "I tell you what, you can't tell. Hold on. Hold on a minute now.
"Where he touches the 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?"
The International Football Association Board's own rules state in Law 12 that a goalkeeper 'must be sanctioned if the offence stops a promising attack or denies an opponent or the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity.'
Had Henderson been sent off, it could have been a very different game. The Palace shot-stopper made six saves, including a penalty from Omar Marmoush, and proved to be a frustration for City across the 90 minutes.
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