Chaos at Old Trafford: Manchester United Fans Outraged as Carlos Baleba Escapes Red Card for Controversial Foul
In a tense Premier League encounter at Old Trafford, Manchester United fans were left enraged after Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba avoided a red card for a controversial foul on Joshua Zirkzee. The incident took place in the 23rd minute when Baleba brought down Zirkzee, who was through on goal, resulting in a penalty for United. Bruno Fernandes calmly converted the spot-kick to level the score at 1-1.
According to the Laws of the Game, a red card should be issued if a player denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) through a deliberate foul, such as pulling or holding, without attempting to play the ball. In this instance, Baleba’s actions seemed to meet this criteria, but he was only shown a yellow card, sparking outrage among United supporters. One fan described the foul as a “wrestling move,” while another questioned, “What sport is Baleba trying to play here?”
The controversy only grew as the match unfolded. Despite Fernandes’ equalizer, Brighton regained control in the second half, with goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter securing a 3-1 win for the visitors. This result marked Manchester United’s third consecutive home defeat to Brighton and their sixth Premier League home loss of the season, leaving fans frustrated not just with the officiating, but also with the team’s performance.
The incident has reignited debates over the consistency of refereeing decisions and the role of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. Many United supporters expressed disappointment, with one fan commenting, “This just shows that VAR is against us always. How was this not given a red card? VAR is the biggest scam.” The lack of intervention from VAR has led to calls for a review of the system to ensure the rules are applied fairly and consistently.
In the aftermath of the uproar, refereeing bodies may need to provide clarification on such decisions to maintain transparency and trust in officiating standards. As the Premier League season continues, incidents like this highlight the need for clear communication and consistent enforcement of the Laws of the Game to uphold the integrity of the sport.
For those who missed the incident, here is a clip of the controversial foul:
