Overview
- A contested incident in Manchester City’s 5–3 win saw Elliot Anderson appear to handle the ball in the penalty area but referee Robert Jones did not award a penalty and VAR declined to overturn that call.
- Pro Ref told broadcasters the ball first struck Enzo Le Fee and that proximity and the players’ natural body positions made the incident too complex for a handball ruling.
- Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett and several pundits rejected Pro Ref’s account, saying the clip showed a clear handball that VAR should have corrected and warning that referees are relying too heavily on video review.
- The incident happened with the score tied at 2-2 on Sunday and followed a separate VAR-reviewed decision in the same match that awarded Erling Haaland’s late goal after an offside check, highlighting inconsistent uses of VAR in big moments.
- This dispute comes after a recent high-profile VAR error in the Manchester derby and a Premier League-ordered review, and it increases pressure on Pro Ref and league regulators to clarify procedures and publish learnings.