American sporting royalty has weighed in on a Premier League controversy, with NFL legend JJ Watt delivering a blistering verdict on Manchester United's controversial late penalty against Burnley.
The Houston Texans icon, a co-owner of Burnley's Championship rivals Burnley, took to social media to express his outrage after United were awarded a 99th-minute spot-kick following a VAR review for a perceived foul on Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
"That is a disgraceful call," Watt declared on X, formerly Twitter. "That is never, ever, ever, ever, ever a penalty. Ever."
The incident occurred deep into stoppage time with the Clarets moments away from a stunning and deserved victory at Old Trafford. Defender Sander Berge was adjudged to have caught Wan-Bissaka with a high boot as the United player attempted a volley.
After being instructed to review the monitor, referee John Brooks pointed to the spot, allowing Bruno Fernandes to cancel out Zeki Amdouni's 87th-minute opener and salvage a 1-1 draw for the beleaguered Red Devils.
Watt's fury echoed the sentiments of most neutral observers and particularly Burnley manager Vincent Kompany, who labelled the decision "bizarre" in his post-match interview.
The intervention from the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year highlights the global spotlight on the Premier League's ongoing struggles with VAR consistency. Watt's high-profile criticism adds significant weight to the growing debate about the technology's impact on the beautiful game.
For Erik ten Hag's United, the penalty provides a temporary reprieve but does little to paper over another deeply unconvincing performance that leaves their European qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
