The FA have reviewed all available footage of the incident
The FA have decided to take no action against Luke Shaw and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for their comments after Manchester United’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Sunday.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Shaw said he believed referee Stuart Attwell had told Harry Maguire he had decided not to give a first-half penalty to United because it would “cause a lot of talk”, after Callum Hudson-Odoi appeared to handle the ball in the Chelsea penalty area.
Solskjaer also appeared to suggest something had been said to his players about the penalty decision that he was unhappy about but refused to be drawn on what exactly was said.
United later made it clear that Shaw had misheard Attwell’s conversation with Maguire.
Having reviewed all footage available to them, the FA have now decided the pair should face no further action.
Speaking to Sky’s Geoff Shreeves about the penalty incident after the game, Shaw said:
“At the time I saw a handball but I didn’t know if it was Mason [Greenwood] or Callum.” Shaw told Geoff Shreeves after the full-time whistle.
“I just carried on, I didn’t even know there was a potential check. I don’t even know why they stopped it. If it’s not going to be a pen I don’t know why they stopped it.
“The ref even said to H(arry Maguire) – I heard him say – ‘If I say it’s a pen it’s going to cause a lot of talk about it after,’ so I don’t know what happened there.
“H said he got told it was a pen by VAR, so I’m not sure what’s gone on.”
🗣 "I don't understand why he stopped the game if it wasn't going to be a pen."
Luke Shaw reflects on Man Utd's draw with Chelsea and the penalty incident in the first half. pic.twitter.com/aiRQwjkjyd
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 28, 2021
Solskjaer, who appeared a few minutes after Shaw, was adamant the decision should have gone his side’s way. Asked for his understanding of what the referee had told his players after deciding not to award the penalty, he said:
“I can’t say, because that’s not going to be good for him.”
He later added: “It’s not right, is it? You know, all these outside influences. Even the VAR before the game on Harry, that’s cheeky when they put that on their website. That’s influencing referees.”
Asked by Shreeves to clarify his comments about the website, Solskjaer told Shreeves to go back and have a look for himself.
“You can read it, what they’re saying about all the controversy about Harry Maguire, putting pressure on referees to give penalties… Against us.”
Asked if this was a serious concern, the United boss continued:
“It wasn’t Frank [Lampard], was it, that started it? There’s loads of talk about us getting penalties when there is no doubt, whatsoever and today we should have a penalty. That’s clear as it is.”
