Why Dean Henderson wasn’t sent off for deliberate handball in FA Cup final
Dean Henderson enjoyed a lucky escape in the FA Cup final (Picture: Getty) Dean Henderson enjoyed a very lucky escape in Saturday’s FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City. The Eagles took the lead against the run of play in the 16th minute when Eberechi Eze capped a fine flowing move with an adroit finish having arrived at just the right time to convert Daniel Munoz’s cross. Palace looked relatively comfortable thereafter, until Henderson’s rush of blood to the head. The England international goalkeeper left his penalty area with Erling Haaland threatening to latch onto a long ball and fisted the ball away from danger. Replays showed the former Manchester United player made contact with the ball comfortably outside his 18 yard box and was extremely fortunatenot to have been sent off by referee Stuart Atwell. Get personalised updates on Manchester City every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. ‘The VAR has had a good look at it and has decided that the direction of play was going to the wide area and therefore it is not the denial of a goalscoring opportunity,’ revealed ITV commentator Sam Matterface. Commenting on the decision for BBC Sport, Alan Shearer hinted he felt the VAR made the correct decision, while acknowledging Henderson could easily have been given his marching order. Dean Henderson JUST about gets away with it
Dean Henderson enjoyed a very lucky escape in Saturday’s FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City.
The Eagles took the lead against the run of play in the 16th minute when Eberechi Eze capped a fine flowing move with an adroit finish having arrived at just the right time to convert Daniel Munoz’s cross.
Palace looked relatively comfortable thereafter, until Henderson’s rush of blood to the head.
The England international goalkeeper left his penalty area with Erling Haaland threatening to latch onto a long ball and fisted the ball away from danger.
Replays showed the former Manchester United player made contact with the ball comfortably outside his 18 yard box and was extremely fortunatenot to have been sent off by referee Stuart Atwell.
Get personalised updates on Manchester City every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
‘The VAR has had a good look at it and has decided that the direction of play was going to the wide area and therefore it is not the denial of a goalscoring opportunity,’ revealed ITV commentator Sam Matterface.
Commenting on the decision for BBC Sport, Alan Shearer hinted he felt the VAR made the correct decision, while acknowledging Henderson could easily have been given his marching order.
