Why Harry Maguire's goal against Ipswich counted despite handball

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FT Desk

Manchester United defeated Ipswich in comfortable fashion, in the end, on Sunday as the Red Devils ran out 5-2 winners at Old Trafford.

Michael Carrick's side didn't start well, however, and went a goal down to the newly promoted side before Bruno Fernandes got a goal back after a slip from Marcelino Nunez allowed for a pacey counter.

After half-time, United took a stranglehold over proceedings and Fernandes would eventually score a hat-trick, while an own goal from Jacob Greaves and a strike from Bryan Mbeumo made it 5-1 overall.

Chuba Akpo scored in the dying minutes to make it 5-2 and the scoreline a bit more respectable for the newly promoted side.

Though Ipswich were eventually well-beaten, there would have been a sense of injustice in the away dressing room following the game due to the manner in which United scored their second.

Ten minutes after the break, Harry Maguire broke forward after the ball clearly hit his hand. The central defender then fired a strike at goal that deflected off Greaves and into the bottom corner.

Many watching wondered why the goal wasn't disallowed, but there are three exemptions when accidental handball by the scorer leads to a goal not counting:

- Goal not immediate

- Goal scored by a team-mate

- Action of a defender results in an own goal

Video assistant referee Jarred Gillett said to referee Craig Pawson: "It's an own goal and the accidental handball is not punishable, so we recommend you award the goal."

Maguire's handball was not deemed deliberate and, crucially, he did not go on to score himself, as it was an own goal by Greaves.

And asked the incident afterwards on Sky Sports, Maguire said: "I haven't seen it back, so I can't really comment. I'm able to tell you it weren't a handball on purpose, for sure.

Was there a deliberate handball ahead of Manchester United's second goal against Ipswich? pic.twitter.com/QXSvaFtxcq

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) August 30, 2026

"I don't know if it brushed my fingers, but I actually dragged the shot a little bit wide, so I think it's going to go down as an own goal unfortunately.

"So probably that's the reason why it counted, because I think if it was my goal, I think they'd disallow it, I think that's the rules nowadays.

"But no, thankfully it was on our side today and I think we deserved a win and we deserved to have a little bit of luck."

Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil said it is "tough for a referee" to judge on what is a "complicated rule".