By Keith Hackett

19th Apr, 2023 | 3:00pm

Ex-PL referee disagrees with Dermot Gallagher as controversial Man United footage re-analysed

Keith Hackett has insisted Man United star Harry Maguire should have been penalised for handball during the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday (16 April).

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee lambasted VAR official Andy Madley for failing to intervene and help award a penalty.

As seen in footage posted to Twitter by Sky Sports (17 April), Maguire handled inside the six-yard box as Forest ace Scott McKenna prepared to head home from a corner kick.

Referee Simon Hooper waved away appeals from the Forest players, and VAR official Madley declined to intervene.

The incident proved costly for the relegation-threatened side, with Man United running out 2-0 winners at the City Ground to consign Steve Cooper’s side to a third straight defeat.

Speaking on Sky Sports (17 April), ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher insisted a penalty wasn’t given due to the “congested” nature of the 18-yard box.

Hackett rejected Gallagher’s claims, insisting it was a “poor excuse”.

He told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “I think Maguire has got the chance to take his hand away.

“But he’s used to not being penalised for this kind of offence, and as a result, he has got away with it.

“Why have we got VAR if it doesn’t come in when the referee has missed something – or he doesn’t have an ideal view?

“I heard Dermot Gallagher explain that it wasn’t given because it was in a crowd of players. What does that mean? It’s a poor excuse.

“Harry Maguire has handled the ball and under the laws of the game, it should have been a penalty kick.”

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