Man United backtrack over Luke Shaw's damning referee allegations

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Manchester United - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - February 28, 2021 Manchester United's Luke Shaw in action with Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta [Pool via REUTERS/Ian Walton]

Manchester United have backtracked on comments made by Luke Shaw who said referee Stuart Attwell claimed they should've been awarded a penalty against Chelsea.

Callum Hudson-Odoi appeared to handle the ball in the area with VAR informing the match official that he should consult the pitch side monitor.

Attwell viewed the footage but opted against pointing to the spot.

Shaw's frustration was evident after the contest, which ended goalless, and he claimed Harry Maguire was told that is was a penalty.

"At the time I saw a handball," said Shaw. "I didn't know whether it was Mason or Callum.

"I just carried on. I didn't even know there was a potential check. I don't know why they stopped [the game] if it wasn't going to be a pen.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Manchester United - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - February 28, 2021 Referee Stuart Attwell watches an incident of the pitchside VAR monitor [Pool via REUTERS/Andy Rain]

"The ref even said to H [Maguire] that 'if I say it is a pen then it is going to cause a lot of talk afterwards'. H got told it was a penalty.

"It's confusing with this VAR, because if it's not going to be a pen they might as well not stop the game. But I'm not going to moan about it, because I don't think either team did enough to win."

Those thoughts were echoed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who spoke to Sky Sports after his player.

Initially the United boss said when quizzed on whether he thought it was a penalty: "Yep, 100 per cent. They're shouting it's handball for our player, but when you look at it on the video, it's taken two points away from us."

He also added that he: "can't say (about Attwell's comments) because that is not going to be good for him."

United have since said that Shaw misheard what was said during the exchange between Attwell and Maguire.

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