'Atrocious' Man Utd decision has fans raging after Brentford defeat

Tom Weber

• Updated: 27 Sept 2025 16:54 BST
• 4 min read

News

Manchester United supporters have been left wondering how Brentford defender Nathan Collins avoided a red card after pulling down Bryan Mbeumo.

The Red Devils suffered a chastening 3-1 loss to the Bees earlier on Saturday after putting in a mostly lacklustre performance. Brentford stormed into an early two-goal lead before Benjamin Sesko pulled one back with his first goal for Man Utd.

The Old Trafford club were offered an amazing chance to equalise through captain Bruno Fernandes after being awarded a second-half penalty. Brentford defender Nathan Collins pulled down former teammate Bryan Mbeumo.

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Bryan Mbeumo

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Bryan Mbeumo

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However, despite being the last man and making no attempt at the ball, the Republic of Ireland international was only awarded a yellow card by referee Craig Pawson. After a lengthy VAR check, the decision was upheld, and Fernandes had his penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.

"The referee told me Bryan was not in control of the ball, I think he was not in control because he was pulled," Ruben Amorim fumed after the match. "You [the media] can say what happened. I don't want to talk about the referee."

'Atrocious' decision slammed

When it comes to denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, the 'likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball' is one of the deciding factors that informs the referee's decision.

This is what Pawson told Amorim, but the 40-year-old head coach is clearly not buying it. He has a point, too, as Mbeumo could clearly have gained control of the ball had he not been pulled.

The Athletic's Man Utd correspondent Laurie Whitwell blasted Pawson's decision as 'atrocious' on X during the game. "Atrocious use of VAR," he wrote.

"Clear red card for denial of goal-scoring opportunity, no effort to play the ball by Collins, yet four minutes wasted only for officials to avoid making the decision. Then subs. Poor penalty Fernandes, who has shown he can be affected by delays."

Pundit Joe Cole similarly argued on TNT Sports: "I think he got away with one, Collins. As a centre-forward and a player of that quality, all Mbeumo has to do is put his toe on it. I feel for the referees, but looking at it again, it is clearly a goalscoring opportunity."

Peter Crouch concurred, too: "I thought it was a red card - it is denying a goalscoring opportunity. Probably lucky to get away with that," the former Liverpool striker said.