In a fiery FA Cup third-round match between Arsenal and Manchester United, an infuriated Harry Maguire had to be restrained as he confronted Kai Havertz.
The tension reached its peak when referee Andy Madley awarded a penalty at 1-1 after Havertz went down, seemingly after colliding with Maguire’s extended arm. ..Continue Reading
Since VAR is only introduced from the fifth round onwards, Maguire’s protests to Madley and his officials went unheard, sparking a massive brawl in North London.
As tempers flared, a visibly angry Maguire was seen yelling at Havertz, who was pulled away by his Arsenal teammates.
Fans have taken to social media, speculating that in the 71st minute, Maguire labeled the German forward a “cheat.” Here’s how social media reacted to the drama.
One said: “Harry Maguire calling Kai Havertz a cheat. This referee has really lost the plot. Maybe VAR isn’t so bad after all,” while another wrote: “‘You cheating s***house’ from Maguire there. What a brilliant watch this is.”
A third commented: “Maguire calling Havertz a cheat is spot on.”
A fourth said: “It seems Harry Maguire was not happy with the decision involving Kai Havertz, calling him a cheat. The referee’s decision definitely raised some eyebrows, making people wonder if VAR could have helped in this situation.”
A fifth added: “United should walk off the pitch. Never seen a game so badly officiated. Disgusting.”
After a lengthy delay at the Emirates, Man United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir produced a great save to deny Martin Odegaard as the match remained tied at 1-1.
