Crystal Palace are celebrating the first major trophy triumph in their history after beating Manchester City 1-0 under the famous arch of Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup final on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles soared to victory courtesy of a 16th-minute strike form in-form midfielder Eberechi Eze, while goalkeeper Dean Henderson was at the centre of attention in more ways than one in the capital.
Henderson denied Omar Marmoush from the penalty spot towards the end of the first half, one of six important saves as he produced a man-of-the-match display to inspire Oliver Glasner‘s side to a memorable win.
However, there is a debate to be had over whether the 28-year-old shot-stopper should have remained on the pitch to make those vital interventions.
In the 23rd minute, prior to Marmoush having his penalty saved, Man City defender Josko Gvardiol played a smart, long ball over the top of Palace’s backline for Erling Haaland to chase on to, and Henderson was hesitant as he came off his line to approach the Norwegian.
As Haaland raised his boot towards the ball, Henderson reached out his right glove and swatted the ball away from danger, handling outside his penalty area to divert the ball away from City’s No.9.
Dean Henderson JUST about gets away with it 😅
Has VAR made the right decision? 🤔#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/ks7CGWQ0OJ
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) May 17, 2025
Man City’s attack eventually fizzed out into nothing, before VAR intervened to take a close look at Henderson’s intervention on Haaland, with replays clearly showing that Palace’s No.1 handled the ball around a yard or so outside his own box – something which was missed by on-field referee Stuart Attwell.
Following a review by officials Jarred Gillett, Michael Salisbury and Darren Cann who were all on VAR duty, play was allowed to continue without any sanction, a decision that has caused some debate both online and among pundits.
VAR have since given their explanation as to why Henderson was not sent off, saying: “The direction in which Erling Haaland was going made it possible, but not obvious [to deny a] goalscoring opportunity.”
Considerations for denying a goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO)
All handball offenses are judged by the position of the ball when it is touched by the hand, and even though Henderson was stood inside his own area, the fact that he handled the ball outside the box is why it can be considered a sanctionable offense.
Whether a goalkeeper handling the ball outside the box should be given a yellow or red card, or avoid any punishment, is determined by the impact it has on the attacking team – the handball itself is not the deciding factor, but the effect it has, is.
In this instance, VAR could only have got involved if they felt that Henderson should have been sent off for DOGSO, but it was decided that as the ball was going away from goal, there was only the ‘possibility’ of Haaland scoring, one that was not considered obvious.
Rooney, Shearer, Wright, Lescott, Keane react to controversial VAR call
“It’s a red card. How can they get this wrong?”
Wayne Rooney has a go at VAR after Dean Henderson avoided a red card 🗣#FACup pic.twitter.com/wk1xAOfNyq
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 17, 2025
Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney, who won his only FA Cup against Crystal Palace in 2016, was amazed that VAR decided that Henderson’s handball was not a red-card offense.
Speaking on punditry duty for BBC, Rooney said: “It is a red card – 100% a red card. Erling Haaland is about to knock it around him and Dean Henderson sweeps the ball away. It is a red card – how can they get this wrong?”
After hearing the VAR reaction, the 39-year-old added: “Just get rid of VAR. They have made a mistake and now they are trying to cover up. It is a red card and everyone can see it’s a red card. To come out with all this rubbish…”
BBC co-commentator and former England striker Alan Shearer added: “Dean Henderson was slightly fortunate. The law is that he is running away from goal, but Henderson’s also stopping a possible goalscoring opportunity.”
🗣️ “How they could say this is not denying a goalscoring opportunity is PATHETIC!” – @IanWright0
💬 “That is one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in football.” – @JoleonLescott
Fair to say our pundits disagree with the Dean Henderson handball decision 😅
#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/D0Zbq0dB01— ITV Football (@itvfootball) May 17, 2025
Meanwhile, ITV pundits Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Joleon Lescott were all in agreement that Henderson should have been sent off in the first half.
Former Palace striker Wright, who scored two goals in their 1990 FA Cup final against Man United, said: “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. It’s all rubbish, he’ll knock it past him, the rules? To confuse us, that’s supposed to be a sending-off.”
Lescott, a 2011 FA Cup winner with Man City, described the decision as “one of the worst decisions I have ever seen in football”, while Keane admitted: “We’re all confused.”
Henderson himself has also reacted to VAR’s decision, telling reporters after the match: “The ball carried into my box and I knew it was fine – who cares?”
© Imago
The verdict: Was Henderson lucky to avoid a red card?
There is clear evidence that Henderson handled the ball, and while on-field referee Atwell is obscured by the bodies in front of him, questions can be raised as to why the linesman closest to the action could not see it.
Had the Palace goalkeeper not swiped the ball away, Haaland would have had the opportunity to either control the ball or knock it past him before running into a position to strike at goal. Some will argue that Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix did sprint back to cover, but his position would not have prevented Haaland from having a goalscoring opportunity.
Henderson was superb between the sticks in the final and deserves all the plaudits that come his way for his performance, but he was fortunate not to receive red, and VAR should have intervened to award Man City a free kick on the edge of the penalty box.
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