Premier League referee sidelined after Manchester United goal controversy

Referee Michael Salisbury will not officiate any Premier League games during the closing weekend of the season -Credit:Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images The referee who permitted a controversial goal for Manchester United last weekend, despite what appeared to be a handball, has been omitted from the final round of Premier League games this Sunday. Michael Salisbury allowed Matheus Cunha's goal for United – their second in a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest last Sunday – to stand, despite Bryan Mbeumo having handled the ball in the build-up. Salisbury was instructed by VAR to examine the incident on the pitchside monitor, but upheld his initial ruling that the goal should count.

Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer at Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), is understood to have reached out to Forest following the match to acknowledge that a different decision should have been made, as per The Mirror . Spurs and West Ham's Premier League relegation battle set for dramatic final chapter Guillermo Ochoa shares touching statement ahead of record sixth FIFA World Cup Salisbury controversially allowed a goal from Matheus Cunha in Manchester United's 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest -Credit:Lee Parker - CameraSport, CameraSport via Getty Images Officials in the English professional game adopt a more relaxed approach to handballs, while staying within the laws of the game, compared to other countries, based on PGMO's continuous discussions with players, clubs, managers, supporters, and the media. Nevertheless, in this specific instance, PGMO, who assign referees for Premier League games, believed that the on-field call would be overturned upon review.

Salisbury has been anything but a consistent presence in the Premier League this season, having overseen just 13 league games – significantly fewer than Michael Oliver, for instance, who has presided over 28 to date and has been assigned to handle the vital encounter between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton on Sunday. Fellow FIFA World Cup referee Anthony Taylor has been given the other pivotal relegation showdown between West Ham United and Leeds United. Farai Hallam, one of English soccer's most exciting refereeing prospects, has been designated to manage the game between Crystal Palace and newly crowned Premier League champions Arsenal at Selhurst Park.

To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HERE Meanwhile, James Bell has been assigned the VAR duties for the Fulham v Newcastle United game, despite facing criticism for not recommending a review of a tackle by Arsenal's Kai Havertz on Burnley's Lesley Ugochukwu during Monday's Premier League meeting at the Emirates Stadium. Paul Tierney issued the German a yellow card on the field, yet replays demonstrated beyond doubt that Havertz had struck the Burnley midfielder on the calf with his cleats. Nonetheless, Bell examined the incident and supported the referee's call, rather than highlighting it for a possible red card.