Cristiano Ronaldo was booked after having a goal disallowed in a bizarre moment during Manchester United’s draw against Newcastle.
After receiving the ball from Nick Pope (Magpies goalkeeper), the Portuguese icon rolled his left foot to place the ball in the net.
However, Craig Pawson blew his whistle to bring back play and let Newcastle take the free-kick that they were initially awarded for an earlier offside – on Ronaldo.
However, the Red Devils’ record goal scorer and his teammates in Red Devils were firm in their belief that he had the right to accept the ball. They argued that the free-kick had been taken.
Replays reveal that the ball was kicked by Fabian Schar to Pope before Ronaldo grabbed it and put it in his net.
And talkSPORT’s Micky Gray and Sam Matterface think Newcastle got away with one.
Former Premier League player Gray said on commentary for talkSPORT: “That ball is in play. Ronaldo’s sharp, he’s bright, he makes a move as soon as Nick Pope’s in contact with this ball.”
Matterface added: “That free-kick was taken. Someone else took that free-kick. Ronaldo’s telling Fabian Schar and said ‘You touched that back to Nick Pope.’ And he did!”
Former Arsenal player Perry Groves said: “Just looking at Craig Pawson, it looks like he’s got his arm up to say when Nick Pope can take it. But looking at him I don’t think he’s got a grip of what’s going on.
“It’s a very difficult one because they [the Newcastle players] will all say they’ve not taken the free-kick.”
Matterface responded: “I think that’s quite generous to Newcastle United. It’s sloppy play from Nick Pope and Fabian Schar, who I think had already taken the free-kick.”
This denied Ronaldo what could’ve been the winning goal as both sides played out a goalless draw at Old Trafford.
Jadon Sancho was then denied a penalty appeal after Sean Longstaff brought him down. Marcus Rashford also missed a golden opportunity in the last moments of the match.
