[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-howard-webb-mbeumo-handball-goal-shouldn-t-have-stood":43,"news-related-howard-webb-mbeumo-handball-goal-shouldn-t-have-stood-en":78,"news-related-match-howard-webb-mbeumo-handball-goal-shouldn-t-have-stood-en":186},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":28,"hostCities":39},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",6,23,"upcoming",[40,41,42],"Mexico City","Monterrey","Zapopan",{"article":44},{"awayTeamId":45,"awayTeamName":46,"body":47,"category":48,"excerpt":49,"homeTeamId":50,"homeTeamName":51,"id":52,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":55,"matchName":56,"publishedAt":57,"slug":58,"sourceName":59,"sourceURL":60,"teamId":45,"teamName":46,"teamIds":61,"teamNames":69,"title":77},"326257546392244224","Nottingham Forest","Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), has conceded that Nottingham Forest were unjustly denied a legitimate goal claim during their 3-2 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday. In a rare direct communication with a Premier League club, Webb informed Forest that referee Michael Salisbury erred in not disallowing Matheus Cunha’s strike following a clear handball by Bryan Mbeumo. The admission underscores the ongoing scrutiny of VAR interventions and the subjective interpretation of handball laws.\n\nThe controversy erupted in the 55th minute at Old Trafford when Mbeumo, a United forward, controlled the ball in the build-up to Cunha’s goal. Replays showed that the ball first touched Mbeumo’s right thigh before inadvertently moving to his right arm. However, rather than the arm being in a natural position, Mbeumo appeared to cradle the ball between his arm and thigh, gaining an unfair advantage. His subsequent shot was blocked, but the rebound fell kindly for Cunha, who swept the ball into the net. Initially, play continued, but VAR Matt Donohue intervened, advising Salisbury to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.\n\nDonohue’s guidance was explicit: he believed a handball offence had occurred. Yet after a lengthy review, Salisbury opted to allow the goal, seemingly interpreting the contact as accidental. This decision provoked immediate backlash from Forest players and staff, and subsequent analysis has vindicated their protests. Webb’s verdict, delivered directly to the club, was that Salisbury had been too lenient and misjudged the nature of the handball. The Premier League’s current framework permits a degree of tolerance for unintentional handballs, but Webb felt this incident crossed the threshold—Mbeumo’s action was deliberate, or at least resulted in a significant advantage.\n\nSpeaking on Sky Sports News, former referee Dermot Gallagher provided a detailed breakdown. He argued that Mbeumo effectively “cushioned” the ball with his arm, nullifying any claim of accidental contact. “It’s handball,” Gallagher stated. “Michael gets seduced by this directive that if it comes off your body and strikes your arm, it’s accidental – play on. But if you watch this, it’s totally different.” He emphasised that the VAR had done everything possible to guide Salisbury, but the final decision rested with the on-field official. Gallagher’s analysis highlighted a critical flaw: the directive meant to simplify handball rulings can sometimes obscure clear offences.\n\nThe incident has reignited the debate over the handball law’s interpretation and the role of VAR. PGMOL has strived for consistency, yet high-profile errors persist. For Nottingham Forest, the consequences were tangible. Losing 3-2, they were denied what would likely have been a 2-2 draw had the goal been rightly chalked off. In a tightly contested Premier League season, a single point can prove decisive—whether in the fight for European qualification or, conversely, the battle to avoid relegation. While Forest’s immediate fate is not detailed here, the frustration is palpable: a clear officiating mistake has directly influenced the match outcome.\n\nWebb’s proactive admission is unusual and signals a commitment to transparency, yet it offers little consolation to Forest. The PGMOL chief has previously acknowledged other errors, but directly contacting a club to confirm a wrong decision raises questions about accountability and potential remedies. Could such admissions lead to retrospective points adjustments? Almost certainly not, given the precedent against altering results after the final whistle. Instead, the focus shifts to preventing future errors through better training or technological refinements.\n\nThis episode also prompts reflection on the psychological pressures referees face when called to the monitor. Salisbury, an experienced official, was presented with damning evidence but chose to trust his initial instinct rather than the VAR’s recommendation. Gallagher’s observation that “it’s Michael’s choice” underscores the human element that remains central to officiating, even amidst advanced technology. Critics argue that the monitor review system, intended to correct clear and obvious errors, failed precisely because of this subjectivity.\n\nFor Manchester United, the goal proved crucial in a 3-2 victory, but the legitimacy of their success is now tarnished by Webb’s post-match judgment. Forest, meanwhile, must channel their frustration into their remaining fixtures, knowing that the margins between success and failure are wafer-thin. The incident will undoubtedly feature in end-of-season reviews by PGMOL and IFAB, the body that sets football’s laws, as they seek to refine the handball rule once more.\n\nIn the broader context, Webb’s candour might be seen as a positive step towards greater accountability in officiating. However, without tangible recourse for affected teams, such admissions risk being perceived as empty gestures. Forest supporters, players, and management are left to wonder what might have been—a sentiment that echoes across the league whenever controversial calls go uncorrected. As the Premier League season reaches its climax, the spotlight will remain on refereeing standards, and every decision will be scrutinised with even greater intensity.\n\nBased on reporting from The Guardian.","news","Howard Webb admits referee was wrong to allow Man United's goal vs Forest after Mbeumo handball, costing Forest potential points in 3-2 loss.","326257545712766976","Manchester United","331905130708340737","326135625054949376","Premier League","327054566501650432","Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest","2026-05-18T18:47:30Z","howard-webb-mbeumo-handball-goal-shouldn-t-have-stood","The Guardian","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ffootball\u002F2026\u002Fmay\u002F18\u002Fbryan-mbeumo-handball-decision-howard-webb-manchester-united-nottingham-forest-michael-salibsury",[45,50,62,63,64,65,66,67,68],"326257821609889792","326257818438995968","326222707169431552","326222713142120448","326255039884562432","326257613643714560","326222712496197632",[46,51,70,71,72,73,74,75,76],"Salisbury","Trafford","Anderlecht","Canada","Vardar Skopje","Hassania Agadir","Netherlands","Howard Webb: Mbeumo Handball Goal Shouldn't Have Stood",[79,102,127,149],{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":80,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":81,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":82,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":83,"slug":84,"sourceName":85,"sourceURL":86,"teamId":87,"teamName":88,"teamIds":89,"teamNames":95,"title":101},"Jalen Brunson scored 30 as the Knicks erased a 14-point deficit to beat the Spurs 105-95 in Game 1, snapping their 6-0 Finals opener streak with an 11-0 run.","337875585936134145","0","2026-06-04T06:14:00Z","brunson-s-30-points-power-knicks-game-1-win-over-spurs","Sky Sports","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skysports.com\u002Fbasketball\u002Fnews\u002F12040\u002F13550620\u002Fnba-finals-jalen-brunson-stars-as-new-york-knicks-beat-san-antonio-spurs-in-game-1","326257592445702144","San Antonio",[87,90,64,65,91,92,93,94],"326257810885054464","326255038114566144","326255040400461824","326257539962376192","326257544227983360",[88,96,72,73,97,98,99,100],"York","Santa Clara","FC Santa Coloma","Como","Santos","Brunson's 30 Points Power Knicks' Game 1 Win Over Spurs",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":103,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":104,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":82,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":105,"slug":106,"sourceName":85,"sourceURL":107,"teamId":108,"teamName":109,"teamIds":110,"teamNames":118,"title":126},"Ivan Dychko, who lost to Anthony Joshua in 2012 Olympic semis, faces Harvey Dykes in his UK pro debut Saturday and tips Joshua to potentially TKO Tyson Fury.","337853174020837377","2026-06-04T06:00:00Z","ivan-dychko-joshua-fury-prediction-ahead-of-uk-debut","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skysports.com\u002Fboxing\u002Fnews\u002F12040\u002F13550447\u002Fivan-dychko-anthony-joshuas-former-olympic-rival-ready-for-uk-return-in-bournemouth-and-offers-aj-vs-fury-prediction","326257545792458752","Bournemouth",[108,111,112,113,114,64,65,93,115,116,117],"326257664482873344","326257664751308800","326257700071542784","326257610275688448","326257745512632320","326257695210344448","326257576805142528",[109,119,120,121,122,72,73,99,123,124,125],"Kazakhstan","Bulgaria","Olympic","Leon","Members","Signal","Tune","Ivan Dychko: Joshua-Fury Prediction Ahead of UK Debut",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":128,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":129,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":82,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":105,"slug":130,"sourceName":85,"sourceURL":131,"teamId":132,"teamName":133,"teamIds":134,"teamNames":141,"title":148},"George Russell trails Kimi Antonelli by 43 points after five races, but with 17 rounds left and a resilient mindset, the 2026 F1 title is within reach.","337853170220797953","why-russell-can-still-beat-antonelli-43-point-gap","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skysports.com\u002Ff1\u002Fnews\u002F12040\u002F13550120\u002Fgeorge-russell-how-mercedes-driver-can-still-beat-kimi-antonelli-to-2026-f1-title-despite-falling-43-points-behind","326222711976103936","Australia",[132,135,65,136,137,138,64,93,139,140],"326257686389723136","326257536112005120","326257600737841152","326222711745417216","326257789708013568","326257604382691328",[133,142,73,143,144,145,72,99,146,147],"Together","Monaco","Junior","Japan","China","GOES","Why Russell Can Still Beat Antonelli: 43-Point Gap",{"awayTeamId":150,"awayTeamName":151,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":152,"homeTeamId":153,"homeTeamName":154,"id":155,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":156,"matchName":157,"publishedAt":158,"slug":159,"sourceName":59,"sourceURL":160,"teamId":153,"teamName":154,"teamIds":161,"teamNames":173,"title":185},"326222712265510912","Egypt","Romelu Lukaku enters the 2026 World Cup with just 64 minutes of club football this season and emotional strain, as Belgium's golden generation seeks a final","326222711401484288","Belgium","337766251004694529","327115046880546816","Belgium vs Egypt","2026-06-03T23:01:19Z","why-belgium-s-2026-world-cup-bid-rests-on-injured-lukaku","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ffootball\u002F2026\u002Fjun\u002F04\u002Fbelgium-world-cup-2026-team-guide",[153,150,162,163,164,165,166,111,167,168,169,170,171,172],"326257539425505280","326222711493758976","326257546258026496","326257664847777792","326222713104371712","326257535952621568","326257539542945792","326257546291580928","326257625266130944","326222712013852672","326257565535047680",[154,151,174,175,176,177,178,119,179,180,181,182,183,184],"Napoli","Croatia","Manchester City","Liechtenstein","New Zealand","Marseille","Juventus","Brighton","Al-Nassr","Iran","Real Madrid","Why Belgium's 2026 World Cup Bid Rests on Injured Lukaku",{"awayScore":187,"awayTeam":188,"description":192,"homeScore":193,"homeTeam":194,"id":55,"kickoffAt":198,"length":199,"leagueId":200,"leagueName":54,"leagueSlug":201,"probabilityLabel":54,"slug":202,"status":203,"tvStations":204,"venueCity":205,"venueName":206},2,{"code":189,"id":45,"imagePath":190,"name":46,"slug":191},"AWY","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F65.png","nottingham-forest","Manchester United need a win to secure Champions League qualification, while Nottingham Forest are desperate for points to avoid relegation. The result could define both clubs’ seasons, either confirming United’s top-four finish or handing Forest a lifeline in the relegation battle.",3,{"code":195,"id":50,"imagePath":196,"name":51,"slug":197},"HME","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F33.png","manchester-united","2026-05-17T11:30:00Z",90,"326135624635518976","gb-premier-league","manchester-united-vs-nottingham-forest-2026-05-17","finished",[],"Manchester","Old Trafford"]