Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg wants a VAR rule to be changed after Manchester United’s incredible Europa League comeback against Lyon.
Wild scenes unfolded at Old Trafford on Thursday night as the Red Devils launched an extra-time comeback in the second leg of their quarter-final tie. Rayan Cherki had made it 4-2 to the French side on aggregate in the 104th minute, before Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes converted his penalty ten minutes later.
But United still trailed in the 120th minute, until Kobbie Mainoo curled in his effort inside the penalty box to spark carnage in the stands. And before anyone had the chance to catch their breath, defender Harry Maguire headed the ball in at the back post to win the game a minute later, sending Old Trafford into raptures.
The 5-4 victory not only sent United into a European semi-final but marked the greatest night of Ruben Amorim’s tenure so far. Yet, on a night filled with drama – where two penalties were awarded, ex-referee Clattenburg took issue with another key decision.
Lyon from the 89th minute onwards were a man down thanks to Corentin Tolisso’s second yellow card. The veteran midfielder was deemed to have stopped a United counter in the dying embers of the initial 90 by tripping Leny Yoro up from behind.
However, replays of the incident showed the trailing Tolisso did not make any attempt to bring the United player down and made minimal contact.
And Clattenburg, who offers his opinion on major decisions during TNT Sports’ coverage, believes VAR rules should be changed to allow second yellow cards to be overturned – something that is currently not the case.
“The Tolisso red card is a ridiculous decision,” he said. “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.
“Unfortunately VAR cannot interfere on a second yellow card but will raise the argument on why not when such a decision is clearly wrong.”
Even Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand, who was on commentary for TNT Sports and went wild after United’s winner, agreed with Clattenburg that the decision to send off Tolisso was wrong. “I think that’s harsh, I think that’s harsh. It is not deliberate,” Ferdinand said.
It was far from the only controversial moment in the game too, with referee Sandro Scharer handing Lyon a penalty for a foul by Luke Shaw later in the game, which Alexandre Lacazette converted.
Scharer missed another penalty shout for a foul on Casemiro in extra-time, though VAR stepped in to overturn his decision and allow Fernandes to score from the penalty spot.
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