Right so let me get this straight. PGMO have come out and admitted that Manchester United's second goal against Nottingham Forest should never have stood because of a handball. A handball they missed. In real time. With VAR running in the background doing absolutely nothing useful as per usual.
Forest fans must be absolutely fuming right now and honestly who could blame them. They go into that game, United score a goal that should have been chalked off, and the result stands. Points gone. Nothing anyone can do about it. Just a little "yeah sorry about that one" from the people whose entire job it is to get these decisions right.
The bit that really does your head in is the VAR situation. What is it actually there for at this point. It was brought in specifically to catch these moments. Clear and obvious errors. A handball leading to a goal is about as clear and obvious as it gets and yet somehow it sailed straight through without a second look. Like they installed a brand new security system and then forgot to turn it on.
PGMO admitting the mistake afterwards is almost worse than just saying nothing. At least silence leaves some room for doubt. Coming out and confirming it was wrong just reminds everyone that the error happened, the result stands anyway, and absolutely nobody is being held accountable for it. Forest get nothing. Nada.
Manchester United will take the win of course and you cannot really blame them for that. They did not cheat, the officials just bottled it on the day. But Forest have every right to be furious because in a league this tight, one point can be the difference between mid table comfort and a relegation scrap come May.
The whole thing just feels like that scene in Goodfellas where they're smiling and shrugging like nothing happened while someone else is left carrying all the damage. PGMO say sorry, everyone moves on, and Forest are just supposed to be alright with it.
They are not alright with it. Nobody should be alright with it.
Let me know your thoughts.