Michael Carrick agrees with his captain Bruno Fernandes on penalty decisions
“He’s definitely got one of them wrong because he’s given one penalty for us for the same thing that he’s not given one,” Carrick said.
“There’s a two-arm grab. The Matheus one he gives, the second one on Amad he doesn’t, which I think is almost identical, really.
“If you have two hands on someone in the box and they go over and they’re in control of the ball, for me it’s two penalties.
“It will be interesting to see which one they acknowledge is wrong: the one we got or the one we didn’t get.”
Jamie Braidwood21 March 2026 08:27
Fernandes on penalty decisions: ‘Either one is a penalty and so is the other or none of them are’
Referee Stuart Atwell looked at an incident in the second half when Amad Diallo went down under contact by Adrien Truffert in the box, but determined it was not worthy of a penalty.
VAR agreed with the on-field decision but Atwell later gave Bournemouth a penalty for a similar-looking challenge, with Harry Maguire seeing a straight red for pushing Evanilson in the penalty area with the latter through on goal, and conceding a spot-kick, which Eli Junior Kroupi duly converted.
Fernandes said afterwards: “I think we could have gone 2-0 up, and then we ended up conceding a goal, not getting a penalty and then we get a penalty against, where more or less it’s the same situation as Amad.
“One is rewarded as a penalty, the other one not. I know it’s difficult for the referee to give two penalties to the same team in one game but I don’t understand why VAR doesn’t get involved in that situation or with Harry [Maguire] because either one is a penalty and so is the other or none of them are.”
Flo Clifford21 March 2026 07:57
Premier League Match Centre explains decision not to award Man Utd penalty
Here’s what the Premier League Match Centre has had to say on X, on the decision not to award Manchester United a penalty after Truffert’s challenge on Amad before Bournemouth’s equaliser:
“The referee’s call of no penalty for a challenge by Truffert was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed the contact was not sufficient for a foul.”
“It’s so easy nowadays to go down and get a penalty, you know guarantee you’re going to get one…so why stay on your feet?
Jamie Redknapp & Andy Cole weigh in on Harry Maguire’s red card 🟥 pic.twitter.com/8ilpypt0os
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 20, 2026
Jamie Braidwood21 March 2026 07:27
Bourmemouth boss Andoni Iraola satisfied with refereeing decisions
Andoni Iraola, who referenced another potential penalty incident involving Maguire and Evanilson in the first half, was satisfied with the officiating.
“I think there are four incidents,” he said. “I think the two penalties they’ve called are clear penalties. The defenders in both situations, they lose their positions and they have to commit the foul.
“The Amad (possible) penalty, I don’t think it’s a penalty, there is no contact low.
“We complained also about the first half two hands behind the back, Maguire against Evanilson, but I don’t think it’s enough also in the same way to call a penalty.
“I think the decisions in the four cases have been correct. At least in the big decisions, I think they’ve got it right.”
Jamie Braidwood21 March 2026 06:57
Michael Carrick baffled and astonished by refereeing decisions at Bournemouth
“It will be interesting to see which one they acknowledge is wrong: the one we got or the one we didn’t get.
“It’s a huge moment. They don’t give it, they go down the other end and score and then it becomes all of a sudden, ‘oh, it needs to be a bigger penalty to overturn’, just because they scored, when actually it’s a penalty and it should be a penalty if you’ve already given one.
“It’s baffling really to make sense of that. And because they score, the game flips a little bit and changes.
“We defended with the 10 men after all that very well. But the penalty one is just astonishing, I have to say. One of them must be wrong.”
(PA Wire)
Jamie Braidwood21 March 2026 06:24
Michael Carrick: ‘We’ll take the point and move on’
Carrick was also full of praise for his side, especially after going down to 10.
“Disappointed with not winning the game after being up but under the circumstances with 10 men for what ended up being some sort of added time that we’ve not seen in a while, they decided to bring that one back, we managed that really well again and were really comfortable in managing that in the way we did it. So I was pleased with the way the boys finished the game.
“It’s easy to let the game slip away. They kept their heads and took the point, which in the end we’ll take the point and move on. Just the decision for the penalty, I don’t understand how you can be one and the other and give one and not. Mental.”
Flo Clifford21 March 2026 04:00
On their current league position, Carrick says: “We’re in a good place. We’ve put ourselves in this position through some good work, good results and good performances.
“We could have had more tonight but it’s not the end of the world.”
“I think we’ve made some improvements. There are things we can improve on, and we can get a lot better.
“I’m happy with the way things have gone, but we’re not satisfied. We definitely want more.”
Flo Clifford21 March 2026 03:00
‘That’s what VAR was for’ – Michael Carrick
On the similarities between the penalty shouts, Carrick continues: “Where do you start, really? Listen, maybe he’s passed Harry [Maguire] and that’s the right decision and he’s given that. I haven’t got too much of a problem, I haven’t seen it back to be totally honest, but I think if he’s passed him and he’s in on goal, I can understand that decision, so I’m not going we deserve everything. But it shouldn’t have happened because we should’ve had another penalty and the game would’ve been totally different and then it ended up in chaos after that. It is what it is.”
These moments “absolutely massive,” he adds. “That’s what VAR was for. Clean it up and consistency. Surely whatever they think, if one’s been given there’s enough people to decide that it’s the same as the first. It’s two different decisions, so a bit baffling really.”
Flo Clifford21 March 2026 02:00
‘Can’t get my head around it’ – Michael Carrick on penalty controversy
Michael Carrick tells Sky Sports: “A lot happened in the end. I thought we had good chances early. Some good chances, some really good chances. I thought we had enough to be ahead and a little more comfortable in the game. We found the goal, should’ve had another penalty.”
On those penalty shouts: “You get one, you must get the other. It’s pretty much identical for me, two-hand grab and so either way he’s got one wrong. To give one and not give the other, I just can’t get my head around it. It’s crazy. Because of that they go down the other end, they score and then it’s chaos after that, really.”
Flo Clifford21 March 2026 01:00
Bruno Fernandes fumes over controversial penalty decisions as Manchester United draw at Bournemouth
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes voiced his frustration at perceived inconsistencies in refereeing decisions as his side were not awarded a penalty in their 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.
Referee Stuart Atwell looked at an incident in the second half when Amad Diallo went down under contact by Adrien Truffert in the box, but determined it was not worthy of a penalty.
VAR agreed with the on-field decision but Atwell later gave Bournemouth a penalty for a similar-looking challenge, with Harry Maguire seeing a straight red for pushing Evanilson in the penalty area with the latter through on goal, and conceding a spot-kick, which Eli Junior Kroupi duly converted.
Flo Clifford21 March 2026 00:15