Manchester United have been informed that VAR concluded there was insufficient contact to award them a penalty in the build-up to Bournemouth’s first goal on Friday night. Amad tumbled to the turf following a challenge from Adrien Truffert but pleas for another spot-kick were dismissed.

The Cherries left-back subsequently found Ryan Christie and he prodded beyond Senne Lammens to draw the match level after Bruno Fernandes’ penalty moments beforehand. United players were left furious at the decision to permit the goal due to the apparent infringement at the opposite end.

The Premier League Match Centre on X have since delivered a verdict on the incident.

Their post to social media stated: “BOUMUN – 67′ The referee’s call of no penalty for a challenge by Truffert was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed the contact was not sufficient for a foul.”

United subsequently regained the lead, with Fernandes’ corner inadvertently nodded into his own net by James Hill.

Additional controversy ensued after that with Harry Maguire bringing down Evanilson in the penalty area before being brandished a straight red card for the denial of a goal-scoring opportunity.

Second-half substitute Eli Junior Kroupi converted the ensuing penalty. Following Maguire’s sending off, Michael Carrick turned to his bench, bringing on Ayden Heaven to partner Leny Yoro.

Regarding the Maguire red card incident, the Premier League Match Centre on X stated: “#BOUMUN – 78′ The referee’s call of penalty and red card for Maguire for the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed to be a holding offence with no attempt to challenge for the ball.”

United are already missing Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt in defence, and Carrick will not be able to field Maguire for their upcoming match against Leeds United. Fortunately, this is not for another three weeks, by which time the injured pair could potentially return.

Maguire will only serve a one-match suspension and will therefore be available for fixtures against Chelsea, Brentford and Liverpool.

United are arguably vying with all three of those teams for a place in next season’s Champions League. Three spots appear to be up for grabs, with Manchester City and Arsenal comfortably ahead of the pack.

Even prior to the sending off, United were subjected to intense pressure from Bournemouth, with Alex Scott hitting the bar from afar.

A silver lining for United in the closing stages was the comeback of Mason Mount in place of Amad, after the midfielder had been sidelined for several weeks due to injury.