File image of Mohsin Naqvi© AFP

Amad was at the centre of a hugely controversial incident against Bournemouth with his Manchester United teammates and pundits discussing the penalty call

Manchester United players and former footballers have had plenty to say on the Amad penalty drama from the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth. With United a goal in front, Amad appeared to be fouled by Adrien Truffert in the penalty box, but Stuart Atwell waved appeals away, with Bournemouth going on to equalise moments later.

It was later revealed that the club would be filing a complaint to the PGMOL, with several players angered by the decision. Former Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna was in agreement with those opinions but stressed that lodging an official complaint is pointless.

He said: “Man United should’ve been awarded a penalty. If this foul is committed in the middle of the pitch, there are no doubts about the right decision.

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“There isn’t much point in filing a complaint – the game has been played and there’s no reversing the decision. VAR is good, but the problem lies in how it is used and who uses it.

“If a former player is managing VAR and the replays, they would’ve given that penalty, because they would’ve identified the defender is in an unnatural position and commits a foul. But instead, the referees don’t give the foul.”

United did get a form of response from the Premier League with their official Match Centre account on X explaining why VAR did not intervene.

Their post read: “#BOUMUN – 67’ The referee’s call of no penalty for a challenge by Truffert was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed the contact was not sufficient for a foul.”

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Coming out of the clash, the anger largely stemmed from Harry Maguire conceding a penalty and being sent off for a challenge not too dissimilar. The United defender took to Instagram to make his feelings clear about the two decisions.

He said: “So soft but that’s where football is at atm and I should know better. You would think both decisions would reach the same outcome. We will be back after the break. Safe travel home reds , your support has been unbelievable.”

United captain Bruno Fernandes spoke to Sky Sports after the game and was unsurprisingly asked about the penalty incidents.

He said: “I know it’s difficult for the referee to give two penalties to the same team in one game but I don’t understand why VAR doesn’t get involved in that situation or with Harry [Maguire] because either one is a penalty and so is the other or none of them are,” the Portuguese said after the game.

“I think the other situation is a penalty but I also think the one on Amad is a penalty and that could’ve changed the game.”

Those two big decisions from Atwell also dominated Michael Carrick’s press conference with the 44-year-old left stunned that only one penalty was given.

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United’s interim head coach said: “He’s definitely got one of them wrong because he’s given one penalty for us for the same thing that he’s not given one. There’s a two-arm grab. The Matheus one he gives, the second one on Amad he doesn’t, which I think is almost identical, really.

“If you have two hands on someone in the box and they go over and they’re in control of the ball, for me it’s two penalties. It will be interesting to see which one they acknowledge is wrong: the one we got or the one we didn’t get.

“It’s a huge moment. They don’t give it, they go down the other end and score and then it becomes all of a sudden, ‘oh, it needs to be a bigger penalty to overturn,’ just because they scored, when actually it’s a penalty and it should be a penalty if you’ve already given one.

“It’s baffling really to make sense of that. And because they score, the game flips a little bit and changes. We defended with the 10 men after all that very well. But the penalty one is just astonishing, I have to say. One of them must be wrong.”

The man opposite him in the dugout from Friday evening, Andoni Iraola, revealed his very different opinion after the stalemate.

Speaking on Match of the Day, the Cherries boss said: “Now we have the advantage we can see replays quickly and I didn’t think there was anything in that one [Amad]. I think the Evanilson one and the Matheus Cunha one are both penalties because defenders lose the position and then the Amad one is never a penalty.

“We asked for one in the first half – Harry Maguire with two hands behind his back – but I don’t think that was enough for a penalty either. I don’t think there is much to discuss.”

He also stated in his post-match press conference: “I would add another incident, I think there are four incidents. The two penalties they’ve called are clear penalties, the defenders involved in both situations lose their position and have to commit a foul.

“The Amad penalty I don’t think is a penalty, there is no contact and he goes to the floor very light. We complained also about the first half, two hands behind the back, Maguire on Evanilson, but I don’t think it’s enough in the same way to call a penalty.

“I think the decisions in the four cases are correct. I’ve had time to review them and I think the big decision they have got it right.”

Plenty of ex pros and now pundits were also on hand to share verdicts with United receiving one immediately from their former striker Andy Cole.

“I think the difference he is denying a goal scoring, just cause of the momentum Harry puts his arm out,” he said on Sky Sports. “I think it’s harsh. It’s a great touch, so I’m not going down, but in today’s game, for me it is a penalty. When we were playing, no chance.

“It’s [a] very physical [challenge] in today’s game. We’ll see with the another penalty in a minute that Harry Maguire gets sent off for, if I’m in that position I’m not going down so I don’t think it is a penalty.”

Even with the clash taking place on Friday evening, the controversial incidents have remained a big talking point over 48 hours on. Gary Lineker has become the latest pundit to disagree with Atwell’s decision.

He said on the Rest is Football podcast: “Manchester United got a point. Let’s discuss [what] came first. They got a point. They look in good shape, really, in third.

“I mean, that twist of, you know, they go one up and then there’s another penalty shout, which did really look like a penalty.

“And then for the team to go to the other end of the pitch and score, it’s like a double whammy against them. And then Maguire gets sent off for something that was quite similar to the one earlier on.”

Co-presenter Alan Shearer added: “I think the referee messed up in that. I mean, if you’re going to give one of those, then you have to give the others as well for me. I think he messed up.”

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Houston Astros star Carlos Correa detailed a harrowing ordeal he and his son faced on a Minnesota lake last summer.

Correa and his 3-year-old son were swimming in Lake Minnetonka when his legs began to cramp up. With his son clinging to him, Correa noticed a buoy a few feet away and swam to it in a last-ditch effort to stay alive.

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Houston Astros third baseman Carlos Correa celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Sept. 12, 2025. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

He said he turned to God to help him through the strenuous time.

“’Lord, save me,’” he told MLB.com. “‘I promise you that if you save me from this one, I will serve you and I will serve you forever.’”

Correa wasn’t out of the woods yet when he got to the buoy. He slipped and fell under the water. As he struggled to stay above the water, he yelled out to a boat for help. Correa’s father-in-law, who was on the boat, noticed the MLB player struggling and swam out to help him.

MARINERS’ RANDY AROZARENA APOLOGIZES FOR CAL RALEIGH COMMENTS: ‘WE’RE BROTHERS’

Houston Astros infielder Carlos Correa works during spring training at CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches on Feb. 15, 2026. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

“I was like, ‘From that moment on, I’m going to serve you,’” Correa said he told God in that moment. “I am going to keep my promise. And from that moment, I’ve been fully devoted.”

Houston acquired Correa in a trade with the Minnesota Twins last July. It ended up being his second stint with the Astros as he continues to be on the team at the start of the 2026 season.

He played 51 games for the Astros in 2025, hitting .290 with six home runs.

Correa played eight years for the Astros from 2015 to 2021 before he signed a deal with the Twins. He was a two-time All-Star in his first run with Houston, won a World Series and was the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year.

Houston Astros third baseman Carlos Correa warms up for the Texas Rangers game at Daikin Park on Sept. 15, 2025. (Erik Williams/Imagn Images)

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He’s set to be in the lineup once again for opening day. The lineup includes Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez.

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Prominent sprint filly Tempted has a barrier trial lined up this week to ensure she stays primed for her Sydney autumn carnival mission.

The three-year-old filly is entered in a 1000m trial at Hawkesbury come Monday or 1030m at Rosehill Tuesday, trainer Ciaron Maher favouring the latter pending track reports.

Chad Schofield remains her booked rider for whichever she contests.

“I’ll see what the tracks are like, but she will probably go to Rosehill,” Maher said.

Tempted was second to top-rated Ka Ying Rising in The Everest (1200m) during last spring’s campaign, then broke through for Group 1 glory in a tenacious victory in Randwick’s Surround Stakes (1400m) on February 28.

Since that win, she’s been given time to stay fresh, and a trip to Maher’s Bong Bong yard recently confirmed her superb condition.

“I was down at Bong Bong during the week. I pulled her out of the paddock, and I thought, she’s going to jump out of the paddock, so I swiftly put her back away,” he said.

“She’s in great order.”

Her probable next outing is the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) over Randwick on April 11, yet trainer Maher keeps the door ajar for the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) the week before against older rivals.

“Maybe an Arrowfield or TJ. I will see what the other horses are doing,” he said.

Tempted is even money to win the Arrowfield, while offered at $8 in early TJ Smith fields.

Also trialling at Rosehill Tuesday is 2022 Everest champion Giga Kick, who ran a promising fourth behind Generosity in the Challenge Stakes (1000m) for Clayton Douglas.

He targets a rematch in the TJ Smith Stakes after running second to I Wish I Win in the race three years ago.

Compare betting sites for the top TJ Smith Stakes odds.

Brazil defender Gabriel Magalhaes has become the latest player from title-chasing Arsenal to withdraw from international duty with injury.

Six of the Arsenal first-team squad have now pulled out or been determined to be unavailable to represent their country in the international window that begins this week.

The Brazil Football Federation (CBF) said that Gabriel will miss the friendlies against France and Croatia, which will take place in the United States, because of “pain in his right knee”.

The CBF says that imaging tests confirmed the 28-year-old’s injury.

Gabriel played the full 90 minutes as Arsenal lost 2-0 to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

His fellow Arsenal centre-back William Saliba has withdrawn from the France squad, with Les Bleus also travelling to the US for their friendly matches against Brazil and Colombia.

England midfielder Eberechi Eze was called up to Thomas Tuchel’s 35-man squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan but withdrew with a calf problem.

He suffered that blow in Arsenal‘s 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League last-16 second leg and missed the Wembley defeat on Sunday.

Arsenal team-mate Ben White has since been called up by Tuchel to fortify the England squad.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed the club are waiting for Eze to undergo another scan to find out the severity of his injury.

Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard is out of the Belgium squad for their matches against the USA and Mexico because of an injury issue.

Club captain Martin Odegaard was already ruled out of Norway duty because of a knee injury, while Dutch defender Jurrien Timber is also out of action at the moment.

Arsenal are competing to win their first Premier League title for 22 years and lead second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand, by nine points.

They are next in action when they take on Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on April 4, before they play the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting on April 7.

The Gunners resume their league campaign on April 11 when they play Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium.

Foden has now collected 18 trophies since breaking through into the first-team as a teenager and was called up to the expanded England squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

But there are question marks as to whether he will make the cut for this summer’s World Cup, while he failed to make it off the bench in last week’s Champions League last-16 second leg tie against Real Madrid, with City suffering a 5-1 loss on aggregate.

Speaking on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show, the former Manchester United forward said: “I felt sad for him but not sad because he is coming on in a cup final.

“There was a game a few days ago when he didn’t even get on the pitch. If that was Max Dowman coming on at the end, you would think good experience. But to see Phil Foden coming on in a cup final, it felt like a charity sub to get him on the pitch.

“I don’t know what has happened, he is a top player. It feels strange he can’t get anywhere near the team. It feels like something has gone on there.

“I thought Foden was in good form but all of a sudden we haven’t seen him get any minutes. Firstly he will be pleased they won the cup but from a selfish point of view, he would have wanted to be out there and having an influence.

“That will be a tough one for him.”

Arthur Fils delivered one of the most dominant performances of the tournament, crushing Stefanos Tsitsipas 6–0, 6–1 at the Miami Open 2026.

From the first point to the last, it was complete control. Tsitsipas had no answers as Fils dictated everything.

The win continues a remarkable trend. Fils is now 5–0 against Tsitsipas.

Even more impressive, this is only his fifth tournament since returning from injury, yet he’s already:
into his second Miami Round of 16
won 9 of his last 11 matches

After the match, Fils didn’t hold back:

“That was the best match I ever played I think in my life. I played some great matches before, but this level was insane, man. I don’t know what to say. I’m very happy with the performance and hopefully I can keep this level til the end of the week.”

Asked if he’s fully back, his answer was simple:

“Oh man, I’m fully back. It’s like I never left ”

On the other side, Tsitsipas was visibly frustrated, even directing complaints toward the umpire about the conditions:

“You should be ashamed of yourself. Have you ever seen me serve and miss a forehand for 5 hours in a row? It doesn’t happen. I cannot see the ball. I don’t know how he sees the ball.”

John O’Shea says he is confident the Republic of Ireland can carry the momentum gained in November into Thursday’s World Cup play-off semi-final against the Czech Republic (19:45 GMT).

In danger of missing out, the Republic of Ireland pulled off stunning victories over Portugal and Hungary to reach this stage.

The 3-2 win in Budapest was a rare success on the road for the Republic of Ireland, but O’Shea has faith that the players can replicate that heroic performance and keep alive their hopes of reaching the World Cup for the first time since 2002.

“Without a doubt, but you have to reinforce that [idea of momentum] straightaway,” said O’Shea.

“The boss [Heimir Hallgrimsson] had a meeting with the boys this morning and we’ll reinforce that in the training sessions and video meetings we’ll have over the next couple of days to transport themselves back to that moment in Hungary, but then fast forward to what’s ahead of us in Prague, tough opposition but one we can have success against.”

The Republic of Ireland will set up a play-off final at home to Denmark or North Macedonia on 31 March with victory in Prague.

There are no fresh injury concerns from the weekend’s club action following Hallgrimsson’s squad announcement on Thursday.

“The boys are in a good place,” added O’Shea, who won 118 Republic of Ireland caps but was not included in the 2002 World Cup squad.

“Training today was almost reminding me of that cup final scenario. Everyone’s wanting to get into the team, the intensity, the noise and the atmosphere around the boys is brilliant.

“There’s a quiet confidence in the group growing together, it’s great to see but we know there’s a lot of hard work to come.”

The Premier League relegation battle looks set to go right down to the wire with four clubs seemingly battling to avoid the one remaining spot in the drop zone.

Perhaps Wolves or Burnley could still pull off the greatest of escapes but, in all likelihood, they will crash into the Championship and then be joined by one of Tottenham, West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Leeds.

Relegation for a Spurs side that won the Europa League last season, reached the Champions League knockout stage this term and has spent just one season outside the top flight since 1950 would go down as one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history but their chastening 3-0 defeat to Forest in their final game before the March international break and Igor Tudor’s catastrophic spell in charge has made that a real possibility.

The north Londoners are currently 17th in the table, just a point above bitter rivals West Ham in 18th, while Forest and Leeds have a marginally greater cushion between them and the bottom three. But with seven games remaining for each, there will be plenty of twists and turns still to come.

Here’s how the crucial relegation run-in is shaping up.

Leeds United

Position: 15th | Played: 31 | Points: 33 | GD: -11

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? The fixtures have fallen fairly kindly for Leeds and the chances are there for them to secure Premier League football next season. Three wins would definitely be enough to survive and two may well do it, so they’ll be eyeing up home fixtures against the current bottom two – Wolves and Burnley – to get over the line. Away games against relegation rivals Tottenham and West Ham also look like prime opportunities to get results on the board.

Tricky contests? Their first game after the international break, away to high-flying Manchester United, is their toughest remaining fixture on paper and leaving Old Trafford with anything would be hugely impressive. That is their only game against a team currently above 10th in the standings but a trip to Bournemouth in April and hosting European football-chasing Brighton in their penultimate fixture won’t be easy. Will an FA Cup quarter-final against West Ham straight after the international break prove to be a welcome distraction or a hindrance?

Final straight? Leeds will be desperate to have secured safety by the time they travel to West Ham on the final day but if not, that could be a high-octane shootout for survival. Games against Brighton and Spurs immediately preceding that are too unfriendly as finales go.

Nottingham Forest

Position: 16th | Played: 31 | Points: 32 | GD: -12

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? The three points they picked up by securing their first Premier League win since late January by hammering Tottenham 3-0 in the final match before the international break could prove vital with a tricky-looking remaining schedule. A home fixture against seemingly doomed Burnley is a golden opportunity for Forest to collect three more points and one further win in addition to that could be enough to get over the line. A home game against a mid-table Bournemouth side who may have nothing to play for on the final day could be their best chance.

Tricky contests? Games against three of the current top six still await Forest with trips to Man United and Chelsea on the docket as well as Aston Villa heading to the City Ground just three days after Forest travel to Porto for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. A trip to Wearside to face this season’s surprise package Sunderland at the end of April is also a tough ask.

Final straight? It’s not the best with a journey to Old Trafford on the penultimate day of the season far from ideal although, as mentioned above, hosting Bournemouth on the final day could offer a chance to snatch the points required if things aren’t wrapped up by then. A home match against a floundering Newcastle as their antepenultimate fixture could also be worse. Things could be complicated if they are still going in the Europa League by that point, however.

Tottenham Hotspur

Position: 17th | Played: 31 | Points: 30 | GD: -10

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? At the moment, Spurs can’t pick up points from anywhere… They haven’t won for 14 league matches, with their last Premier League triumph coming against Crystal Palace back in December and their most recent attempt being a 3-0 hammering by relegation rivals Nottingham Forest. On paper, a game away to Wolves at the end of April is a good opportunity for three points, as is a potentially pivotal clash with Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium three matches from the end of the campaign, but every clash is tough currently. There’s a good chance they may have a new man in charge by the time they face Sunderland on 12 April though and how they could do with a new manager bounce.

Tricky contests? Sidestepping the obvious quip of ‘every single one’, given their recent form, away games at Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and Chelsea in May don’t look too fruitful. Even home fixtures with mid-table sides Sunderland, Brighton, plus top-half Everton suddenly look that much more dangerous as well.

Final straight? Leeds at home as the third-last game is absolutely huge. Should that game go awry and Spurs head into the final two matches in the relegation zone, then a trip to Stamford Bridge and clash with Everton to finish up appear unlikely to provide succour.

West Ham United

Position: 18th | Played: 31 | Points: 29 | GD: -21

Remaining fixtures:

Where to pick up points? Their impressive form since hugely damaging back-to-back defeats to Wolves and Nottingham Forest at the start of the year have seen West Ham go from doomed to having a genuine chance of survival. They may well be questioning exactly where the form that has seen them claim four wins and three draws from their last 10 league games was earlier in the season but if they can keep it going from here, then a home game against cellar-dwelling Wolves straight after the international break and a trip to struggling Crystal Palace to follow look like brilliant chances to rack up victories. Welcoming Leeds to the London Stadium on the final day also looms incredibly large.

Tricky contests? The Everton (H), Brentford (A), Arsenal (H) run from late April to early May does not look very friendly. The games before and after that run appear to be much better chances to pick up the points the Hammers need to pull off an impressive escape.

Final straight? If West Ham can get through that three-game stretch with a realistic shot at survival then an away game against Newcastle and a home clash with Leeds to finish the season might just be the ticket to get them clear of the drop zone. The final-day showdown against Daniel Farke’s side could be an all-time classic but won’t be a pretty watch if both sides are still fighting for their lives. However, the fact that the Whites are coming to the London Stadium at least plays into Nuno and co’s hands.

Verdict?

This could genuinely go in any direction and you’d have to be a brave person to predict the outcome with any confidence.

It will surely all come down to the final day when West Ham host Leeds in a showdown for the ages, Spurs play Everton and Nottingham Forest host Bournemouth. Leeds generally have the kindest fixtures and although the goals have dried up for them recently, they should have enough to survive given the current cushion.

Forest could be adversely affected by their Europa League run and will probably need to have survival wrapped up going into the final couple of games, while West Ham’s crunch period comes straight after the international break. The next two fixtures could make or break the Hammers’ chances.

Meanwhile, Spurs are in abject form and appear to be on the brink of ditching Igor Tudor. Could a new manager bounce prove sufficient? At this stage, we’ll say no and condemn Tottenham to the Championship for next season. But everything will change week by week.