Referee's Questionable Calls Spark Outrage in Dramatic Football Showdown

On August 24th, 2025, a heated football match between Manchester United and Fulham was marred by a series of controversial decisions from the referee. In the first half, Calvin Bassey was adjudged to have dragged down Mason Mount in the penalty area, leading to a penalty for United. However, there were no notable appeals from Fulham's players, and play restarted immediately.

The VAR check prompted the referee, Chris Kavanagh, to review the incident at the pitchside monitor. After deliberating for some time, Kavanagh determined that it was a penalty, much to the frustration of the Fulham players and manager Ruben Amorim.

Bruno Fernandes stepped up to take the penalty, but his momentum was halted as the referee walked into his path. Fernandes reacted with dismay, remonstrating with the official, before ultimately smashing his shot high over the bar, much to the delight of the home crowd.

In the second half, the controversy continued. Bassey claimed that a Fulham player had pushed him, preventing him from clearing the ball, but the referee did not review the incident. The match ended with the score still level, leaving both teams and their supporters feeling aggrieved by the officiating decisions.