VAR checked Maguire-Azpiliceuta clash – referee remained quiet

In the 39th minute of the game, Manchester United captain Harry Maguire head-locked Cesar Azpilicueta as he put his left arm around Azpilicueta’s neck to prevent him to jump higher and make contact with Ben Chilwell’s corner.

Azpilicueta shouted and demanded a penalty – Martin Atkinson remained unmoved.

VAR didn’t even check this. Maguire holding Azpilicueta.

Clear penalty??? pic.twitter.com/gJWZqkin8t

— ????? (@lfcrubn) October 24, 2020

From raw footage, it looks like a clear penalty. Even commentator Jim Beglin seconds the notion.

Here’s what Cesar Azpilicueta had to say about the situation:

? "The VAR is there, the monitor is there to help. It was 50/50 so why not take 20 seconds to review"

César Azpilicueta's opinion on the penalty incident with Harry Maguire in the first-half pic.twitter.com/kMm0CfCcWN

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 24, 2020

Funnily enough, minutes later Atkinson checked a possible penalty on Marcus Rashford by Thiago Silva which didn’t look like a penalty.

The Athletic‘s Charlotte Harpur and Luke Bosher claim that the VAR did indeed check the incident. The play continued suggests that the on-field decision taken by Atkinson was correct.

Last season, Maguire made another horrific challenge on Michy Batshuayi. No action were taken during that time too.

The game ended in a goal-less draw as both sides failed to take advantage.