Ex-FIFA official - Stuart Attwell gets another big call wrong in Sunderland loss vs Man United
Sunderland fell to a defeat away to Man United in a game that wasn't without controversy.
Man United secured a 2-0 victory against Sunderland, relieving some of the pressure that has been on Ruben Amorim after a poor start to the season.
As for the Black Cats, they will leave Old Trafford disappointed with themselves, having failed to showcase the quality that had them inside the top six ahead of the game.
However, Sunderland will also feel hard done by after several decisions from Stuart Attwell that have raised question marks.
Bertrand Traore should have had a foul vs Man United
Sunderland thought they had a penalty in the first half, after Benjamin Sesko and Trai Hume came together in the penalty area.
After a VAR review, Atwell reversed the penalty decision, much to the surprise of Keith Hackett.
However, the former FIFA official was also left baffled by another decision made by Attwell, when Bertrand Traore was booked for simulation, despite replays showing a clear foul by Senne Lammens.
Had the foul not occurred, Traore, in all likelihood, would have rolled the ball into an empty net, with Hackett exclusively revealing to Mackem News that he thinks Attwell also got this one wrong.
He said: "Traore was fouled with the offence occurring just outside the area.
"The referee was wrong to caution the Sunderland player for simulation. He was fouled!
"Sadly, no intervention by VAR under the criteria and of course, no right of appeal on a yellow card."
Sunderland looked like a newly-promoted side vs Man United
Man United are still Man United at the end of the day, and there is no real shame from coming away from Old Trafford after a 2-0 loss.
With that said, Sunderland will be disappointed with their performance, especially in the first half of the game.
- 48 per cent possession
- Four shots
- Two shots on target
- 0.35 xG for
- 1.32 xG against
In the second, the Black Cats created some glorious opportunities but failed to take them, with Chemsdine Talbi and Eliezer Mayenda guilty of that.
With the international break to follow, Sunderland will have plenty of time to iron out the errors that cost them on Saturday, with a crucial home clash against Wolves up next.
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