PGMO chief Howard Webb has reportedly admitted to Manchester United that Brentford defender Nathan Collins should have been sent off during their Premier League clash on September 27. The admission follows a meeting with United chiefs Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox, who sought clarification on the decision by referee Craig Pawson.
With United trailing 2-1, Collins pulled back Bryan Mbeumo in the penalty area, earning a spot kick but only a yellow card. Under the 'double jeopardy' rule, a booking would suffice if Collins made a genuine attempt to play the ball, but it appeared he did not, and as the last man, he denied a goalscoring opportunity. Bruno Fernandes missed the resulting penalty, and Mathias Jensen scored late to seal a 3-1 win for Brentford.
According to the Daily Mail, Webb acknowledged the mistake, and United appreciated his rational explanation, choosing not to make a public fuss. Had Collins been sent off, United would have had roughly 20 minutes against ten men to seek an equaliser, potentially altering the context of the match.
The defeat increased pressure on manager Ruben Amorim, but MEN Sport understands that United are not considering sacking him. Despite reports linking Gareth Southgate with the role, no contacts have been made with other managers. United bounced back with a 2-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday.
