When Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana’s violent tackle on Marcus Rashford went unpunished, Manchester United supporters were incensed. Rashford tried to pass the ball across the box in the twenty-third minute at Old Trafford, but Fofana seemed to catch him. United supporters were angry when the video assistant referee did not step in despite the seriousness of the challenge.
Fofana surged in with a hard tackle that appeared to strike Rashford rather than the ball as Rashford sped toward the Chelsea goal. Despite the tackle’s apparent recklessness, the referee and VAR decided not to give a penalty, which infuriated United fans on social media who thought the challenge deserved a penalty kick.
The More Comprehensive Background
This contentious choice exacerbates United’s current difficulties as they attempt to regain stability under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy after Erik ten Hag was fired. Before new coach Ruben Amorim takes over, the Red Devils, who are presently in the bottom part of the Premier League standings, are in dire need of points to turn around their season. The opportunity to build momentum and get closer to the form required for a comeback was lost when Chelsea was not given a penalty call.
