Premier League Explains VAR Call That Handed Manchester United Late Penalty in 3-2 Win Over Burnley

Manchester United finally picked up their first win of the Premier League season with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday — but not without controversy.

The match looked set to end in a stalemate after United twice surrendered the lead. An early Josh Cullen own goal gave the hosts an advantage, only for Lyle Foster to equalize from close range. Bryan Mbeumo then restored United’s lead, before Jadon Anthony struck back for Burnley.

As added time ticked away, Amad Diallo went down in the box after his shirt was visibly pulled. Initially, referee Sam Barrott waved play on, but VAR advised him to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. Following the check, the referee awarded a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes coolly dispatched to secure United’s first three points of the campaign.

The Premier League’s Match Centre later issued a clarification on X, stating:
“After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of no penalty to Manchester United. Referee announcement: ‘After review, Burnley eleven has a sustained pulling action on Manchester United sixteen, which results in a penalty kick. My final decision is yellow card and penalty.’”

Opinion:
This decision has already divided fans. United supporters will feel justice was rightly served — after all, the tug on Diallo’s shirt was clear, and such fouls often go unnoticed. On the other hand, Burnley fans may argue that incidents like this happen frequently in crowded penalty areas, and giving such calls in stoppage time can feel harsh.

What is undeniable, however, is that VAR once again played a decisive role in shaping the outcome of a Premier League match. For United, it was a moment of relief and much-needed momentum under Ruben Amorim. For Burnley, it was another painful reminder of how the finest margins can swing games at the highest level.

At the heart of the debate is the growing question: has VAR brought fairness to the game, or has it simply shifted controversy from referees’ blind spots to the monitors?