Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has dismissed claims that Manchester United were denied a clear penalty during their dramatic 2-2 draw, pushing back against criticism from United boss Michael Carrick over refereeing decisions.
The controversy unfolded during the second half when Amad Diallo went down inside the penalty area following contact from a defender. While United players appealed strongly, VAR reviewed the incident and decided against awarding a spot kick.
Moments later, a similar physical challenge involving Harry Maguire and Bournemouth striker Evanilson resulted in the referee pointing to the penalty spot, sparking further debate over inconsistency.
Speaking after the match, Iraola made it clear he did not believe the challenge on Diallo warranted a penalty. He stated that while other incidents during the match could be justified as fouls, the one involving Diallo did not meet the threshold.
He also referenced an earlier situation involving Maguire in the first half, suggesting that not every physical interaction inside the box should automatically result in a penalty decision.
On the other side, Carrick expressed frustration with the officiating, arguing that both incidents appeared similar and should have led to identical outcomes. He questioned how one challenge could be penalised while the other was ignored, calling the decision confusing and difficult to accept.
The match itself was packed with action. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 61st minute, before Ryan Christie quickly brought Bournemouth level.
United regained the lead after an own goal by James Hill, but the game took another turn when Maguire was sent off, leaving the visitors with ten men.
Bournemouth capitalised on the advantage, with Eli Junior Kroupi converting a late penalty to secure a 2-2 draw.
Despite the disappointment of dropping points, Carrick acknowledged that holding on for a draw with ten players was a positive outcome given the circumstances. The match has since sparked wider debate among fans and analysts about consistency in refereeing and the use of VAR in crucial moments.
