Why VAR did not intervene when Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson came off his line in saving Gabriel Jesus' penalty against Manchester City

VAR did not order a retake when Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson came off his line in saving Gabriel Jesus' penalty against Manchester City tonight
Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus (right) has his penalty saved by Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus (right) has his penalty saved by Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus (right) has his penalty saved by Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

The young England goalkeeper dived to his right to keep out Jesus’ spot kick superbly, after Chris Basham had fouled Riyad Mahrez.

City fans, though, were quick to point out that Henderson was a fair distance of his line when Jesus, who stuttered in his run-up in an attempt to deceive the United ‘keeper, struck the penalty.

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But Martin Lipton, a respected media figure, explained the decision not to order a retake on Twitter.

“Clear case of encroachment by Henderson,” Lipton wrote. “Should be spotted by assistant. But Uefa agree with PL [Premier League] stance that VAR not to be used on such calls (Fifa felt it was too severe in Women's WC). Encroachment by defenders irrelevant if they are not first to rebound.”

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