2 weeks Ago By Daniel Hepburn
Manchester United completed one of the finest comebacks in their history on Thursday night – and former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, in the wake of the Old Trafford outfit’s win against Ligue 1 outfit Lyon , wants a VAR rule changed. Ruben Amorim ’s men were cruising in the first 45 and, as a result, were two goals to the good, but that all changed when Lyon pegged back four goals. Two came in regulation time before Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette scored in extra time.
Manchester United and Tottenham have advanced to the semi-finals - but how much money have they earned in Europe so far? But akin to the Sir Alex Ferguson days, the Red Devils got the Old Trafford faithful singing for their head coach after Bruno Fernandes scored. Then Kobbie Mainoo cutely steered his effort into the bottom corner before Harry Maguire stepped up. Utilised as an auxiliary centre forward, the centre-back by trade rose above the rest and latched onto Casemiro’s pinpoint delivery to win the second leg 5-4, thus sending Amorim’s men into the Europa League semi-final against Athletic Club.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Manchester United are the first team in history to score two goals in the 120th minute of a major European match. But the nine-goal thriller wasn’t without its controversy after Lyon skipper Corentin Tolisso was shown in his marching orders in the 89th minute. Referee Sandro Scharer issued a second yellow after the Frenchman seemingly tripped Leny Yoro up from behind.
However, replays of said incident show that Tolisso, formerly of Bayern Munich between 2017 and 2022, made very little contact with his fellow countryman just before the end of the 90 minutes – and Clattenburg has demanded a change to VAR’s rules. The ex-Premier League official – who named Roy Keane among the five most annoying players he refereed – has insisted there should be a change in the regulations that allows VAR to overturn second yellow cards, which is currently not the case. He said: “The [Corentin] Tolisso red card is a ridiculous decision.
To receive a yellow card in this situation was for stopping a promising attack and this was not the case as there was a covering defender who could easily play the ball.” “Watching another angle, I am not sure there was much contact either to award a foul. Therefore, Manchester United have got lucky in this decision,” Clattenburg insisted.
“Unfortunately, VAR cannot interfere on a second yellow card but will raise the argument on why not when such a decision is clearly wrong.” Rio Ferdinand , who was on punditry duty for TNT Sports, was on side with Clattenburg as he believed that Tolisso could count himself unlucky after Scharer brandished a red card ahead of one of the craziest extra-time periods of all time. He said: “I think that’s harsh, I think that’s harsh.
It is not deliberate.” Looking ahead, Amorim and his entourage will be focusing solely on winning Europe’s secondary competition. Elsewhere, Paulo Fonseca’s side are eyeing a place in Ligue 1’s top three spots and automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League.
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