Man Utd's Ibrahimovic Comes Clean Over Handball Accusation in Controversial Win at Crystal Palace

Published on: 14 December 2016

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has seemingly admitted to handling the ball in the build up to Manchester United's opening goal against Crystal Palace on Wednesday.


The striker teed up Paul Pogba for the game's first goal and, as replays suggested, the ball appeared to ricochet off his hand before falling the way of his Red Devils teammate to open the scoring.


James McArthur levelled proceedings midway through the second half before Ibrahimovic's late goal sealed a vital 2-1 victory for United, and in the aftermath of the match the ex-Sweden international was asked whether he had deliberately played Pogba in by using his hand.

In quotes published by the Daily Mirror, Ibrahmovic said: "Could be, could be. I tried to pass to Paul as I saw he was free and I think it touched my hand first then my stomach. I will have to see the images."


The veteran forward's handball wasn't the only contentious decision that referee Craig Pawson is accused of getting wrong on the night, with both sides rightfull aggrieved over his officiating of the league encounter at Selhurst Park.


Juan Mata saw a goal ruled out for offside, despite the midfielder joining the attacking phase of play from an apparent onside position, while appeals for a penalty after a clear handball by Eagles midfield man Joe Ledley was waved away.

FACT: Marcos Rojo - The King of the two-footed challenge.  pic.twitter.com/rWn2lIifBl

United defender Marcos Rojo was also extremely fortunate to escape a straight red card for the second time in 10 days after his two-footed lunging tackle on Wilfried Zaha.


The centre back had already been lucky to escape an early bath after he had flown in two-footed, with studs showing, on Everton's Idrissa Gana Gueye in the 1-1 draw at Goodison Park earlier in December.


United manager Jose Mourinho defended Rojo after the match, insisting his star was a "clean player", but Palace manager Alan Pardew was left livid by the dangerous challenge by the Argentine on his star winger, as well as Pawson's poor officiating.

If you actually watch football, and not just read Twitter, you'll have realised that Paul Pogba has been absolutely excellent. Class player.

An angry Pardew said: "It did look bad from the sidelines. He jumps two-footed, and we go to all these meetings where that's a red card.


The first goal was a call the linesman should have seen. I thought it was offside even from where I was standing. He refereed the game aggressively. A lot of fouls and it could have flowed a bit better.�


The result leaves United in sixth position in the league standings, while Crystal Palace have dropped to 16th, just three points clear of the relegation zone.

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