Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions remain a weekly flashpoint in the Premier League, and the controversy surrounding Manchester United’s clash with Crystal Palace was no different.

Former Select Group referee Andy Davies offered detailed insight into the decision-making process, explaining how VAR protocols are applied on matchday and assessing whether the key call in the game was correctly handled.

The incident in question unfolded early in the second half and ultimately reshaped the match.

In the 52nd minute, Bruno Fernandes threaded a precise pass through to Matheus Cunha, who had moved beyond Palace defender Maxence Lacroix and was advancing toward goal.

Lacroix, whose earlier strike had given Palace the lead, pulled Cunha’s shoulder as the forward broke clear.

Referee Chris Kavanagh immediately awarded a penalty, VAR Tony Harrington reviewed the incident, confirmed the foul occurred inside the penalty area.

Despite the holding beginning just outside and advised an on-field review for a potential red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO).

After consulting the monitor, Kavanagh announced that Lacroix had committed a clear holding offense denying a clear opportunity, awarding the penalty and issuing a red card.

The VAR review centered on established DOGSO criteria which was distance to goal, direction of play, likelihood of controlling the ball, and the presence of covering defenders.

Davies talked about the technical importance of freezing footage at the precise moment of contact, as allowing it to roll forward can distort perceptions of playing distance and influence judgment.

It was determined that Cunha had a clear path to goal and that the nature of the offense, an upper-body holding action with no attempt to play the ball met the threshold for a red card.

Fernandes converted the penalty, and eight minutes later Benjamin Sesko scored the decisive goal, lifting United to third in the league standings.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner strongly disputed the call, describing it as an “Old Trafford bonus” and insisting the foul began outside the box.

He argued the decision altered the game’s trajectory despite VAR involvement. In contrast, Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick praised his side’s resilience, highlighting their second-half response after trailing at the break.

The expert assessment overall, upheld both the penalty and the red card as correct under the laws of the game, reinforcing the role of VAR intervention in ensuring accurate application of DOGSO criteria in decisive moments.