WEMBLEY, United Kingdom — Dean Henderson don stir yawa for FA Cup final wey Crystal Palace meet Manchester City on May 17, 2025. Na during di match, di goalkeeper handle ball as Erling Haaland dey rush towards goal, but VAR no gree send am off.
Henderson touch di ball outside him penalty area, and initially, referee Stuart Attwell no call am. VAR check di matter, but dem reason say Haaland no dey go straight for goal as di ball don dey move away from am after Henderson touch am. Dis one cause plenty confusion among fans and football pundits.
Ian Wright, former Crystal Palace striker, don express him shock: “How dem fit talk say dis no be goalscoring opportunity? Na absolute madness!” Joleon Lescott, former Man City defender, add him voice: “Dis na one of di worst decisions I don ever see for football.”
Roy Keane join di discussion too, admitting, “Wey dey confuse us?” Wayne Rooney wey dey commentate for BBC also speak clear: “Na 100 percent red card. How dem fit miss dis?”
Di incident happen when Josko Gvardiol send long ball wey go for Haaland. Henderson rush comot for him area and handle di ball. Di VAR, led by Jarred Gillett, say dem no fit give red card because of di direction wey Haaland dey go.
While di match dey hot, Palace don score di first goal thanks to Eberechi Eze wey net one fine goal in di 16th minute. After dis, City get penalty wan equalize but Henderson deny Omar Marmoush from di spot, making am even more hero for di match.
Alan Shearer, wey dey commentate for BBC, say: “Na clear say Henderson get di ball, but me I dem sure say Haaland dey go away from goal.”
Di decision no gree sit well with fans wey express dem frustration on social media. Fans dey ask: “How dem fit say no red card?” and “Dis na di worst VAR decision I don see!”
Di rules say any player wey touch di ball outside di area to deny an obvious goalscoring opportunity fit collect red card. But in dis case, di VAR decision make sense based on di position of di players and di ball direction.
After di game, Henderson reflect on di match and him late papa wey he hope to make proud. “I dey carry him spirit for my heart,” he talk. “I believe say he go dey proud to see me play for FA Cup final.”
Palace finally manage hold on to di lead and win di match, making it a memorable final. Di drama from di VAR decision and Henderson’s performance go continue to spark debate for di football community for many months ahead.
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