Referee Michael Salisbury, who faced intense criticism for allowing a controversial Manchester United goal to stand last weekend, has been omitted from the final round of Premier League fixtures scheduled for Sunday.
Controversial Decision Under Fire
During Manchester United's 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Salisbury allowed Matheus Cunha's goal to stand despite an apparent handball by Bryan Mbeumo in the build-up. Although VAR advised him to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, Salisbury upheld his original decision, sparking widespread backlash.
Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer at Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), later contacted Nottingham Forest and reportedly acknowledged that the call should have been overturned. While English referees generally adopt a lenient stance on handball, PGMO admitted that in this specific case, the on-field decision should have been reversed.
Salisbury's Limited Premier League Involvement
Salisbury has not been a regular fixture in the Premier League this season, officiating only 13 matches—significantly fewer than colleagues like Michael Oliver, who has overseen 28 games and is appointed for the crucial Tottenham versus Everton clash. World Cup referee Anthony Taylor will take charge of the relegation battle between West Ham and Leeds, while emerging talent Farai Hallam is assigned to Crystal Palace against newly crowned champions Arsenal.
Another VAR Controversy
Meanwhile, another refereeing decision has drawn scrutiny. James Bell has been selected as VAR for the Fulham versus Newcastle match, following criticism for his failure to recommend a review of Kai Havertz's challenge on Burnley's Lesley Ugochukwu during Monday night's Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium, which Arsenal won 1-0.
Paul Tierney issued a yellow card for the incident, but replays clearly showed Havertz's studs making contact with Ugochukwu's calf. Despite this, Bell checked and confirmed the on-field decision, opting against recommending a review for a potential red card. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville branded Havertz's challenge "vicious," adding: "He is miles away from the ball. I don't like that. The height of it and the fact it is on the standing leg." Neville concluded that Havertz was "a lucky boy" when VAR did not intervene.
