VAR decision to rule out Fulham goal vs Man United explained after painfully long wait

The Premier League have explained why VAR made the decision to rule a Fulham goal out against Manchester United on Sunday. Marco Silva's side thought they had pulled one back in the 65th minute when Jorge Cuenca tapped home from close range after Samuel Chukwueze's shot was blocked.

The ball had fallen to Chukwueze inside the box after Raul Jimenez's free-kick hit the wall, and the former's snapshot was blocked by Lisandro Martinez before Cuenca was there to prod into the back of the net. However, following a long check, VAR decided to rule out the goal as it was viewed that Chukwueze was offside in the build-up.

Replays showed that Chukwueze's shoulder strayed beyond the last man - Amad Diallo - and therefore VAR stepped in and ruled the goal out, despite a delay of around four minutes.

Shortly after referee John Brooks informed the Old Trafford crowd that the goal wasn't going to stand, the Premier League released a statement to explain the decision.

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Alongside a video showing Chukwueze's shoulder in an offside position, the Premier League's Match Centre account said on X: "#MUNFUL – 65’ VAR OVERTURN VAR checked the referee’s call of goal – and established that Chukwueze was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed."

With United leading 2-0 thanks to goals either side of half-time from Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, Fulham did eventually pull one back in the 85th minute and it came from the penalty spot. After Harry Maguire fouled Jimenez inside the area, the Mexican pulled himself back up to score from 12 yards.

Fulham then had the momentum and the Whites thought they had nicked an