Stuart Attwell had plenty to deal with during the FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City.
The 42-year-old strangely allowed Dean Henderson to stay on the field despite the Crystal Palace No.1 swatting the ball away outside of his box, denying Erling Haaland a goalscoring opportunity.
Those in the VAR booth and Attwell decided that the Norway international was running away from goal, therefore deciding the incident was not the denial of a goalscoring opportunity, although the Manchester City No.9 was only forced wide due to Henderson’s touch, so Crystal Palace were quite fortunate to escape unpunished.
🗣️ “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
However, besides this moment, there was another incident Attwell and his officiating team got wrong during the FA Cup final.
Tyrick Mitchell appeared to get the ball when challenging Bernardo Silva
Tyrick Mitchell handed Manchester City a chance to equalise in the 24th minute when Attwell adjudged the Crystal Palace No.3 to have fouled the Portugal international.
However, slow motion replays show that the England international actually got a touch on the ball before making any contact with Silva.
We are unable to show you said footage for licensing reasons, although you can see for yourself here on X (previously known as Twitter).
Fortunately for Crystal Palace and Oliver Glasner – a manager Tottenham like – justice was served as Henderson denied Omar Marmoush from the penalty spot.
DEAN HENDERSON.
The @CPFC shot-stopper with an incredible save to deny Omar Marmoush from the spot 🤯#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/Mxf5URv9K6
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 17, 2025
What VAR actually said about Tyrick Mitchell and Bernardo Silva incident
Speaking on ITV, both Ally McCoist and Lee Dixon shared what VAR said about the moment, adding that they feel Mitchell – who Tottenham want – did get the ball.
Firstly, Dixon said: “VAR is saying he didn’t get a touch on the ball, but based on what we’ve just seen there. He did get a touch on the ball.”
McCoist then added: “He did, I’m telling you, he did get a touch on that ball. I totally agree with you, he made contact with the ball.”
Dixon continued: “It’s not even our opinion, it’s a fact, you can see it move. They’ve got that wrong or their explanation is wrong.”
Crystal Palace had a decision go in their favour when Henderson illegally denied Haaland, although Manchester City quite clearly had one too when Mitchell was penalised, so at least things evened themselves out in the end.
