Premier League referee Michael Salisbury dropped after Manchester United VAR controversy

Michael Salisbury has not been appointed to any final-day Premier League fixture after Manchester United’s controversial win over Nottingham Forest.
PGMOL admitted Matheus Cunha’s goal should have been disallowed following Bryan Mbeumo’s handball in the build-up.
Salisbury became just the fourth referee this season to reject a VAR recommendation at the pitchside monitor.

Michael Salisbury has not been selected to officiate any Premier League match on the final day of the season after the controversy surrounding Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend.

The referee allowed Matheus Cunha’s second-half goal at Old Trafford to stand despite Bryan Mbeumo handling the ball in the build-up. Salisbury reviewed the incident following advice from the video assistant referee but chose to stick with his original on-field decision.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) later acknowledged the goal should have been ruled out.

Forest were furious after the decision, with the goal proving decisive in a game that carried significant implications in the race for European qualification.

Under current Premier League interpretations, referees are given more flexibility over accidental handball offences compared to some other European competitions, although the laws remain the same.

PGMOL chief Howard Webb reportedly informed Nottingham Forest that while there were arguments for interpreting the incident as accidental, “football’s expectation” would have been for the goal to be disallowed.

It marked only the 17th occasion in seven seasons that a referee has rejected VAR advice after being sent to the pitchside monitor. It was also the fourth such instance during the current campaign.

Salisbury, who has overseen 13 Premier League matches this season, has now been omitted from all 10 fixtures scheduled for Sunday’s final round, with every game kicking off simultaneously at 16:00 BST.

The controversy has again intensified debate around VAR consistency and referee accountability in English football following another season dominated by disputes over officiating standards.

Elsewhere, James Bell has still been appointed as VAR for Newcastle United’s trip to Fulham despite criticism over his role in Arsenal’s win against Burnley on Monday night.

Bell came under scrutiny after deciding against recommending a review for Kai Havertz’s challenge on Burnley midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu during Arsenal’s narrow victory at the Emirates Stadium.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.