While Cristiano Ronaldo scored again for Manchester United at the weekend, the referee’s penalty decisions arguably cost him a chance to add to his tally.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Michael Owen cannot understand how Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t awarded a penalty at West Ham.
Ronaldo made it four goals in three games back at Manchester United by scoring a first-half equalizer to help the Red Devils nick a 2-1 comeback victory over West Ham on Sunday.
But referee, Martin Atkinson, denied the five-time Ballon d’Or winner THREE penalty appeals.
Ronaldo’s two clear penalty misses
#1 The Coufal incident
The first one came when CR7 collided with the West Ham right-back Vladimir Coufal inside the box. There was clear contact, although not enough to convince Atkinson to award a spot-kick.
Penalty or no penalty? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/vB979tDvBH
— FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) September 19, 2021
#2 The Zouma one
The second one, meanwhile, was even stranger. Kurt Zouma’s challenge inside the box took Ronaldo down late on. The defender had no contact with the ball, a clear penalty right? Think again. Atkinson didn’t point to the spot or check the VAR replays.
Ronaldo was tripped in the box. Zouma did not touch the ball and brought him down. Am I living in an alternate dimension?
How is that NOT a penalty? #mufc pic.twitter.com/cXDcNP2Nff
— GOATs (@___GOATs___) September 19, 2021
Of course, it’s not the first time Atkinson has denied Ronaldo a penalty. The ref previously did it an FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Portsmouth in 2008, which left him on Sir Alex Ferguson’s bad books.
Ironically, Atkinson eventually gave a spot-kick to West Ham only for David de Gea to thwart Mark Noble’s effort.
What did Solskjaer say?
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, the Red Devils said: “The first one and the third one, I think they are stonewall and you can’t even argue against them. The first one, the lad puts his foot out and Cristiano runs straight.
“The last one, Paul [Pogba] had a foul against him – Kurt Zouma. He did not touch him, but he went over him. So why is Cristiano’s third appeal not a penalty?
“I hope it won’t be ‘Cristiano is never going to get a penalty.’”
🗣 "Two penalties were stonewall. Hopefully it won't be 'Cristiano's never going to get a penalty'."
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Manchester United were unlucky not to get two penalties against West Ham pic.twitter.com/W0stpST4ta
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 19, 2021
Schweinsteiger thinks Ronaldo had a clear penalty
The German World Cup winner insists that Zouma’s challenge on Ronaldo was a clear foul.
By the way… Clear penalty on @Cristiano after the tackle of @KurtZouma
— Bastian Schweinsteiger (@BSchweinsteiger) September 19, 2021
Owen agrees with Solskjaer
The former Liverpool and Manchester United striker was surprised to see Atkinson award West Ham a late penalty after rejecting Ronaldo’s penalty appeals.
There’s going to be trouble ahead…. After turning Ronaldo away 3 times for a penalty, then to give that.🙈
— michael owen (@themichaelowen) September 19, 2021
Wow, talk about drama……..
— michael owen (@themichaelowen) September 19, 2021
Like Solskjaer, Owen felt Ronaldo had a case for at least two penalties.
Ronaldo should have definitely had 1 penalty, probably 2. And I thought the pen against Shaw was correct. Can’t recall a game where there’s been so many talking points in the last 5 minutes. Incredible⚽️
— michael owen (@themichaelowen) September 19, 2021
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