Fans on social media reacted angrily to Alejandro Garnacho's handball being overlooked in the lead up to Man Utd's second goal against Athletic Club.
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Man Utd beat Bilbao 3-0 in Europa League semi first legVAR didn't give a potential handball against GarnachoFans claim decision could've been a turning pointFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Football fans were left fuming on Thursday night after VAR failed to spot what appeared to be a blatant handball by Garnacho in the build-up to Manchester United's controversial penalty during their Europa League semi-final first leg against Athletic Club. Bruno Fernandes converted the spot-kick to make it 2-0, and their opponents were reduced to 10 men with Dani Vivian being shown a red card, sparking a storm of outrage online as supporters slammed the officials and accused the system of "corruption" in one of the most hotly debated VAR calls of the season.
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Manchester City fan @DxBruyneSZN wrote on X: "Athletic Club have been robbed. It’s a shambles really"
User @FlorianFocus added: "I'm sorry but why is that a red card?"
User @valverdismo888 tore apart the referees, writing: "Probably the worst decision i've ever seen and that's not an exaggeration. Handball on Garnacho, never a penalty and the ridiculous red card to top it off. Disgusting ref."
@blaSkalda claimed that the referee should never be allowed to officiate another game in Europe: "Espen Eskas should be nowhere near European football. That's absolutely unbelievable stuff from him, he blocked Athletic players twice and intercept their pass twice… not even talking about the Garnacho handball before the goal, disgusting."
WHAT INAKI WILLIAMS SAID
Following the game, Bilbao striker Inaki Williams was criticial of referee Eskas. "There are some plays that raise doubts," Williams told reporters (h/t United In Focus). "The play before the penalty comes from a handball by Garnacho, which the referee doesn’t see.
“It’s a struggle between Vivian and him. All the slightest contact, he goes down, and it’s unfortunate that he called it.”
AFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE
United and Bilbao were going toe-to-toe in the opening 25 minutes of the game, until Casemiro's header broke the deadlock at San Mames. After that, captain Fernandes struck twice in eight minutes before half-time. Garnacho's potential handball not being given, and Vivian subsequently being sent off, allowed Ruben Amorim's men to take control, given them a healthy lead ahead of the second leg.