Why Maguire goal was allowed to stand despite refs seeing Man Utd handball

Manchester United's second goal against Ipswich Town was allowed to stand despite the ball hitting Harry Maguire's HAND in the build-up.

Maguire, 33, fired United into a 2-1 lead in the 57th minute at Old Trafford after controlling the ball on the edge of the box before drilling a low shot that was deflected home by Jacob Greaves for an own goal.

However, the ball appeared to hit Maguire's hand when he won it back, leaving the Ipswich players incensed that the goal should be disallowed. But, because he was not the actual goalscorer, the goal is allowed to stand.

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If Maguire had directly benefited from the handball and been the scorer, a free-kick would have awarded to Ipswich. As he was not, United were given a second goal and took the lead for the first time in the game.

"The referee's call of goal for Manchester United was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Maguire was not the immediate goalscorer after an accidental handball," the Premier League said.

VAR added: "It's an own goal and the accidental handball is not punishable, so we recommend you award the goal."

Gary Neville delivered his verdict on the incident and repeated what was said by VAR when they were discussing about disallowing the goal. "If that shot had been on target it wouldn't have been a goal," Neville told Sky Sports.

"VAR say to the referee 'hear me out and listen to me' because they know it's going to be complicated."

United had fallen behind in the 29th minute as Ipswich took a shock lead. Abdul Fatawu went past Luke Shaw with ease on the right-hand side before pulling the ball back for Leif Davis to smash home.

But the Reds responded 11 minutes later as Matheus Cunha pounced on an error from Marcelino Nunez to slide a pass through to Bruno Fernandes and he did the rest, slotting the ball beyond the Ipswich goalkeeper.

Although Ipswich hadmade a bright start to the second half, United were ruthless in attack. After Greaves' own-goal put them ahead, Fernandes scored from the spot soon after to make it 3-1 to the Reds.

Fernandes wrapped up his hat-trick in the 68th minute, tucking the ball into the bottom corner after the ball fell into his path, before Bryan Mbeumo made it 5-1 to United with a well-taken lobbed effort.

There was still time for Ipswich to reduce the deficit to three and make it 5-2, however, as Julio Enciso robbed Lisandro Martinez before squaring to substitute Chuba Akpom to prod home from close-range.

That is how it ended in Manchester as the Reds secured their first win of the season and bounced back from last weekend's dismal opening defeat at Hull City.

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