Same situation, different calls: Bruno Fernandes blasts VAR after Man United controversy vs Bournemouth

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes did not hold back as he blasted the officiating in the dramatic 2-2 Premier League draw against AFC Bournemouth on Friday evening.

The Red Devils were firmly in control at 1-0 when Amad Diallo was clearly brought down inside the box by Bournemouth left-back Adrien Truffert.

Referee Stuart Attwell had an unobstructed view of the incident, yet astonishingly waved play on.

Within 30 seconds, United were made to pay, as Ryan Christie punished them by restoring parity for the hosts.

The controversy deepened in the 78th minute when Harry Maguire pulled down Evanilson in the box and was promptly sent off.

What made the decision even more contentious was the apparent inconsistency, with Maguire’s contact seemingly lighter than Truffert’s earlier challenge on Diallo.

Despite that, the first incident was ignored, while the second resulted in both a penalty and a red card.

Captain Bruno Fernandes was rightly furious and he did not mince his words after the final whistle.

Fernandes said (via Sky Sports): “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 in the same game for the same team but what I don’t understand is why VAR doesn’t get involved in that situation.

“Either one is a penalty and the other one too or none of them is a penalty.”

The 31-year-old is absolutely spot on with his remarks.

After already awarding one spot-kick, the referee appeared reluctant to make another big call, despite clear evidence.

Instead of applying the rules consistently, the decision-making seemed influenced by the flow of the game.

Every incident has to be reviewed separately, but clearly Stuart Attwell failed to get the basics right. Even more baffling was the silence from VAR, which failed to intervene or recommend a second look at the monitor.

Consistency over the full 90 minutes is essential for a fair contest, but on this occasion, the officiating fell short. The referee messed it up and United have found themselves on the receiving end of it again.

It is a point well earned for the Red Devils despite many factors going against them. Performing at the highest level becomes nearly impossible when critical calls repeatedly swing one way.

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .