Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg criticizes PGMOL for failing to rule out Arsenal’s winner in their 1-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has criticized the PGMOL for a controversial decision during Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the season opener at Old Trafford.
While Arsenal walked away with three points thanks to Riccardo Calafiori’s goal, Clattenburg believes that the Premier League officials missed an important infringement, particularly during the set-piece that led to the winner.
Controversial Decision: A Missed Opportunity for the PGMOL
Clattenburg highlighted that William Saliba’s physical challenge with Mason Mount and goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was a clear case of holding that should have been penalized. He pointed out that PGMOL had promised to be stricter on grappling in the penalty area this season, making this decision even more perplexing.
In an interview with United in Focus, Clattenburg said, “In real time, I didn’t see any problem with Arsenal’s goal. But when you watch it in slow motion, you can see Mason Mount was having his shirt pulled, and Bayindir was being impeded while challenging for the ball.”
Despite the Premier League’s new focus on holding players accountable during set pieces, this decision has cast doubt on whether the referees are fully committed to the revised rules for the 2025-26 campaign.
What Went Wrong for PGMOL
The controversy stems from the fact that just days before the Premier League season kicked off, PGMOL chief Howard Webb emphasized the importance of clamping down on holding in the penalty box. With that in mind, the failure to penalize Saliba’s actions during the build-up to Calafiori’s goal seems at odds with those directives.
It seems that despite increased awareness and efforts to tighten up the refereeing in this area, the PGMOL missed an opportunity to enforce the new guidelines.
Looking Ahead
While the decision didn’t affect the final result, it certainly added to the frustration for Manchester United, who will now focus on bouncing back from their opening-day defeat when they travel to Fulham next Sunday. Meanwhile, Arsenal will be looking to build on this victory when they host newly-promoted Leeds United at the Emirates.
As the season progresses, questions will continue to surround how rigorously the PGMOL applies the new rules and whether further errors will be made when it comes to crucial decisions in the penalty area.
