Harry Maguire’s unseen verdict on Everton vs Man Utd penalty drama after X-rated claim

Harry Maguire was initially judged to have fouled Ashley Young but saw a penalty overturned as Manchester United secured a draw in controversial fashion against Everton at Goodison Park

Harry Maguire was told he ‘s*** himself’ before VAR overturned an Everton penalty against Manchester United.

The Red Devils defender, and team-mate Matthijs de Ligt saw Ashley Young fall in the penalty area and Andrew Madley point to the spot. Maguire had come into contact with the Toffees star, while de Ligt pulled Young’s shirt.

But, video assistant referee, Matt Donohue sent Madley to his monitor, before seeing the decision rescinded. That saw United’s two-goal comeback preserved after Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte had scored in the second-half to earn a point.

Following the game, the decision dominated conversation and analysis. Even players from the two squads could not help but discuss the stoppage time verdict.

Lingering in the depths of Goodison Park after full-time, Maguire engaged in conversation with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. England international James Tarkowski soon interjected to offer his verdict on missing out on the penalty.

“H [Harry], you better get out of here quick, you s*** yourself!” he said, per the MEN. “It’s not a pen, but I’m surprised they overturned it,” Maguire is said to have offered in return before suggesting Young ‘hadn’t helped himself’ by throwing himself to the turf.

Conversation over the drama continue in a light-hearted manner between the trio, while the likes of David Moyes and Ruben Amorim were asked for their verdicts in their press conferences. The former had believes De Ligt’s shirt pull had been enough to cause an offence.

However, the focus of Madley’s review was centred around Maguire’s actions, per ESPN. The official was sent to the pitch-side monitor to review the foul from Maguire.

VAR Donohue was unable to highlight the shirt pull as a separate reason to award spotkick. The VAR had to decide whether the Dutchman’s actions constituted a clear and obvious error from the referee, as Madley did not award the foul on the field.

Holding a player’s shirt is not an automatic transgression as VAR takes account of how long a shirt is held for and whether the victim of the pull goes to ground in a way which is commensurate to the act.

De Ligt’s holding of the shirt was deemed ‘fleeting’, and Young judged to have thrown himself on the pitch in an exaggerated way. As a result, that incident didn’t meet the threshold for a clear and obvious error to award a penalty to Everton.

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