Manchester United's inconsistent form under manager Ruben Amorim continued on Friday night as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at home by West Ham United. The result was compounded by significant news from the world of football governance, where referees' chief Pierluigi Collina advocated for a major expansion of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
Late Magassa Strike Denies United Victory
Manchester United endured another disappointing evening at Old Trafford, dropping points after conceding a late equaliser. The home side had taken the lead through defender Diogo Dalot and looked set to build on their comeback win at Crystal Palace the previous weekend.
However, Soungoutou Magassa's 83rd-minute strike, his first Premier League goal, earned West Ham a share of the spoils. The goal came after a goal-line clearance from a corner, and the final whistle was met with audible boos from sections of the home support, highlighting the ongoing challenges in Amorim's rebuild.
Collina Calls for VAR to Rule on Corner Kicks
In a significant development for the sport's laws, FIFA's head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, publicly called for VAR to be used to adjudicate corner kick decisions at next year's World Cup. Speaking in Washington DC ahead of the finals draw, Collina stated it would be a pity if an "honest mistake" by a match official decided a crucial game.
For this change to be implemented at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, it must first be adopted as a trial by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at its annual business meeting next month. Collina emphasised that the objective for all should be to achieve correct decisions on the field of play.
Other Key Football Headlines
Trent Alexander-Arnold is facing a lengthy spell out of action after Real Madrid confirmed the England defender sustained a muscular injury to his left quadriceps during their midweek win at Athletic Bilbao. Early reports suggest the former Liverpool star could be sidelined for approximately two months.
In personal health news, former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 56-year-old ex-Newcastle, West Ham, and Portsmouth player, who also represented Trinidad and Tobago, shared that the "fairly aggressive" cancer, diagnosed 18 months ago, has now spread to his pelvic bone. Hislop has urged men, particularly those of Caribbean heritage, to get tested for the disease.
Looking ahead, the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place later today in Washington DC. In domestic cup action, Salford City host Leyton Orient in the FA Cup second round, while Middlesbrough travel to Hull City in the Championship.
