Why wasn’t Dean Henderson sent off in FA Cup final?

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Dean Henderson avoided a red card against Man City in the FA Cup final after the Crystal Palace goalkeeper handled outside the box with Erling Haaland storming towards goal.

The VAR Jarred Gillett checked the incident after referee Stuart Attwell failed to penalise the goalkeeper, but he also deemed it not to be a goalscoring opportunity with the ball, after Henderson touched it, moving away from goal.

The VAR deemed concluded: “The direction Haaland was going made it a possible but not obvious goalscoring opportunity (GSO).”

"How they can say this isn't a goalscoring opportunity, it’s absolutely pathetic, it's crazy, he'll tap that pass and tap it into the goal,” Ian Wright, a former Palace striker, said.

open image in gallery Manchester City's Erling Haaland in action with Crystal Palace's Dean Henderson ( Action Images via Reuters )

“It's all rubbish, he'll knock it past him, the rules? To confuse us, that's supposed to be a sending-off.”

Former Man City defender Joleon Lescott described it as “one of the worst decisions I've ever seen in football,” with Roy Keane admitting, “we’re all confused.”

Wayne Rooney was equally scathing on the BBC’s coverage: “It’s 100 per cent a red card, how can they get this wrong?”

Ally McCoist was left baffled on commentary for ITV, claiming that at the point of contact from Henderson, it was in fact a goalscoring opportunity

open image in gallery Dean Henderson of Crystal Palace gestures during the Emirates FA Cup Final ( The FA via Getty Images )

“That is surely a goalscoring opportunity. Get him on the phone. I know what he's saying,” remarked McCoist.

While Alan Shearer agreed that it was not a goalscoring opportunity, stating on the BBC’s coverage: “There's no doubt that Dean Henderson touches that with his hand. It is clear to me that Erling Haaland is going away from goal.

Henderson remained on the pitch and would go on to save Omar Marmoush’s penalty before smothering a rebound from Haaland, keeping Palace in front after Eberechi Eze struck the opener.

open image in gallery Crystal Palace's Dean Henderson saves a penalty taken by Manchester City's Omar Marmoush ( AFP via Getty Images )

The incident-packed first half also sparked debate around the controversial penalty, with replays showing Tyrick Mitchell managed to gain a touch of the ball before making contact with Bernardo Silva.

Here is why Henderson was not sent off and what referee Attwell and the VAR must consider:

Sending-off offences

A player, substitute or substituted player who commits any of the following offences is sent off:

• Denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area)

The following must be considered:

• Distance between the offence and the goal

• General direction of the play

• Likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball

• Location and number of defenders

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