Michael Salisbury will play no part in the Premier League's final round of fixtures this Sunday after his handling of Manchester United's win over Nottingham Forest last weekend drew widespread criticism and a formal admission of error from the sport's officiating body.

Salisbury allowed Matheus Cunha's goal for United to stand despite Bryan Mbeumo handling the ball in the build-up. He then rejected advice from the video assistant referee to take a second look at the incident at the pitchside monitor — a call PGMOL subsequently conceded was wrong, acknowledging the goal should have been ruled out.

The referee has been in charge of 13 Premier League matches this season, yet his name does not appear in the officiating teams for any of the ten games that kick off simultaneously at 16:00 BST on Sunday. Whether that absence is disciplinary or simply routine scheduling, PGMOL have not said publicly, but the optics are hard to ignore given the sequence of events.

Webb's assessment and the handball debate

Referees' chief Howard Webb met with Nottingham Forest in the aftermath and told the club that while there could be justifiable grounds for deciding Mbeumo had not handled the ball, the broader expectation of the game would have been for the goal to come off. It is a careful distinction — Webb was not saying the decision was definitively wrong under the laws, but that football's common-sense standard demanded a different outcome.

English professional referees operate under a more permissive interpretation of the handball law than officials in many other countries, which remains a persistent source of frustration for supporters and managers alike. Even within that framework, PGMOL's own post-match review found Salisbury's call fell short.

What makes the episode particularly notable is the rarity of it. Salisbury's decision to reject VAR guidance at the monitor was only the 17th such instance across seven Premier League seasons, and the fourth this term alone. On each previous occasion, those moments have attracted intense scrutiny. This one is no different.

Bell selected despite Havertz controversy

The situation is further complicated by a separate officiating row running in parallel. James Bell has been named as VAR official for Fulham's home game against Newcastle on Sunday, despite facing criticism over his decision not to recommend a review of a challenge by Arsenal's Kai Havertz on Burnley's Lesley Ugochukwu during the midweek fixture. Bell's inclusion suggests PGMOL are not applying a blanket policy of standing aside officials who attract controversy — making Salisbury's omission all the more pointed.

For Forest, who were chasing points with significant implications at the bottom end of the table, the denied goal remains a source of genuine grievance. The outcome of that match will not be revisited regardless of what PGMOL say. Sunday's final round represents the last chance for all 20 clubs to settle their fates, and it will proceed entirely without the man at the centre of one of the season's most contentious officiating decisions.

The noises out of PGMOL since the Forest game have been unusually candid, but candour does not change the scoreline. For Salisbury, the question now is what role he plays when next season begins.

FAQs

Frequently asked

Why was Cunha's goal against Nottingham Forest controversial?
Bryan Mbeumo handled the ball in the build-up to Matheus Cunha's goal for Manchester United. Referee Michael Salisbury rejected a VAR recommendation to review the incident at the pitchside monitor, allowing the goal to stand. PGMOL later admitted it should have been disallowed.
Has Michael Salisbury been sacked or suspended?
There has been no official announcement of a suspension or sacking. Salisbury has simply not been selected for any of the ten Premier League matches on the final day of the season, which all kick off at 16:00 BST on Sunday.
How often do Premier League referees reject VAR advice at the monitor?
It is extremely rare. Salisbury's decision was only the 17th time across seven Premier League seasons that a referee has declined to act on advice from the VAR at the pitchside monitor, and just the fourth time it has happened this season.