What happened: In the 75th minute, Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar went to ground inside the six-yard box when he appeared to be caught by a high boot from Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes. Referee Stuart Attwell waved play on and Man United broke forward up the pitch.
VAR decision: No penalty.
VAR review: It’s rare that a high-boot offence is given against the defending side inside the area, usually it must be a blatant to get penalised; likely many things, there’s a different interpretation inside the area, or for a high-boot offence by an attacker inside the area.
The VAR decided there was a clear action by Schar to stoop forwards and lower his head to play the ball, while the Newcastle player gets a clear header towards goal that strikes post and he isn’t impacted. Fernandes is deemed to have made a reasonable challenge while contact with the opponent is minimal and a consequence of the actions of both players, who are committed to playing the ball.
Teammate Scott McTominay seems to realise the possible offence, pulling out of trying to kick the ball as Schar comes into head it, but Fernandes goes through with his attempted clearance.
While Fernandes does only make a small amount of contact on Schar, a high boot with contact is a direct free kick, or a penalty is inside the area. It’s unlikely to be considered an error not to give the penalty but players trying to kick the ball in this way should be aware of the presence of others, so Fernandes was lucky he didn’t make full contact with Schar which surely would have been a certain penalty.
