Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher could not see eye to eye with one Sky Sports pundit over Crystal Palace’s controversial penalty kick against Manchester United.
Jean-Philippe Mateta was brought down inside the Manchester United box by Leny Yoro and referee Rob Jones pointed to the spot for Crystal Palace in the first half.
The 28-year-old striker stepped up for the penalty and Jean-Philippe Mateta sent Senne Lammens the wrong way after he planted the ball into the bottom left corner.
What did you think of Leny Yoro’s challenge for the Crystal Palace penalty?ð¤
Jean-Philippe Mateta is fouled by Leny Yoro, which resulted in a penalty during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park in 2025 in London, England.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
However, VAR would intervene and summoned Rob Jones to review the footage at the pitchside monitor in United’s 2-1 comeback win over Palace on Sunday.
Jones had deemed that Mateta had struck the ball from his right foot onto his left foot before his spot-kick effort went into the back of Senne Lammens’ net.
Palace were forced to retake the penalty and France forward Mateta successfully sent the United No 1 the wrong way for the second time in the match.
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Jean-Philippe Mateta is fouled by Leny Yoro, which resulted in a penalty during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park in 2025 in London, England.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
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Dermot Gallagher’s verdict on Jean-Philippe Mateta retaking his Crystal Palace penalty against Man Utd
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Dermot Gallagher was asked for his feelings on Jean-Philippe Mateta being allowed to take his penalty kick again on Sunday.
The former referee thinks that “it’s only fair” that Crystal Palace and France striker Mateta was handed a second opportunity because of the circumstances around it.
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“This is a first in the Premier League because the law was amended because of [Julian] Alvarez in the Champions League,” Gallagher explained.
“What they decided now is because it’s accidental and he’s scored it’s a retake.
“If he missed, it would’ve been an indirect free-kick. I think it’s only fair. He doesn’t mean to slip.”
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Sky Sports pundit Jay Bothroyd reacts to Dermot Gallagher’s stance on the Crystal Palace vs Man Utd penalty decision
Mateta’s penalty was the difference-maker in the first half and Palace took a 1-0 lead over Manchester United into half-time at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.
But the Red Devils rallied back in the second half and United sealed a 2-1 win thanks to the respective impact of Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee on the scoreline.
Sky Sports pundit Jay Bothroyd fully disagreed with Gallagher’s assessment of the penalty and suggested that Mateta should not have been handed a second chance.
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“I don’t agree with that,” he said
“You step up to take a penalty and you plant your foot and touch the ball, it’s bad technique.
“If you take a bad touch, it’s just a bad touch. He’s planted his foot ahead of the ball and has cut across it.
“That’s his fault, he shouldn’t get the opportunity to take it again for his mistake.”
United have won six of their 13 Premier League matches in the 2025-26 campaign and the Red Devils are currently seventh in the table after this weekend’s 2-1 result.