Harry Maguire was labelled a ‘lucky boy’ after escaping a red card in a nasty foul on Fulham’s Sasa Lukic on Saturday.
In an attempt to win the ball, Maguire clambered into Lukic’s ankle, though the foul was deemed a yellow card offence by referee Michael Oliver.
With the defender picking up a yellow, fans were quickly divided online as to whether it was a red card or not.
Sports commentator Richard Keys was quick to comment too, posting on X, formerly Twitter: ‘Harry Maguire is a very lucky boy. As clear a red as you’ll see all weekend and he was only booked by Michael Oliver.’
‘VAR is a waste of time when Oliver refs. No-one will contradict him.’ he continued.
Harry Maguire lunged in on Fulham’s Sasa Lukic’s ankle, but walked away with just a yellow
Richard Keys reinstated his view that VAR operators are ‘scared’ of referee Michael Oliver
The clumsy tackle divided fans over whether VAR should have intervened for a red card
Fans took to social media to share their thoughts on the tackle, with one writing: ‘If that’s a red then games gone. It’s a foul and yellow.’
‘How on earth has VAR not sent Harry Maguire off here? Grim.’ another wrote.
‘Harry Maguire should be off the park. Awful attempt at a tackle. Dangerous. Red all day’ one user posted.
‘Harry Maguire’s lucky there. They’ve been given as red cards. Surprised Michael Oliver hasn’t snatched at the opportunity to take the spotlight as he does so often while officiating United games.’ a fourth added.
It comes just days after Keys vocalised his views on VAR operators being ‘scared’ of Michael Oliver.
He claimed that VAR operators are scared of Michael Oliver and simply rubberstamp the official’s decisions because they are ‘scared’.
Oliver was embroiled in controversy during Liverpool’s 4-1 victory against Brentford, having waved away penalty appeals from Ivan Toney after he received a shove in the back from Andy Robertson inside the box.
The experienced referee waved play on and his decision stood after a VAR check.
‘What has happened to VAR? David Coote [VAR official] went missing because he knows that Oliver is never going to accept someone he regards as inferior sending him to a monitor.
‘Operators are scared of Oliver so they back off.’
‘We know this because Mike Dean admitted as much early in the season. Refs help their mates out and duck controversy.’
