Man United vs Roma referee slammed over soft penalty and potential Maguire red card
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United speaks with referee Jesus Gil Manzano during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD4 match between Manchester United and AS Roma at Old Trafford on November 03, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Italian newspapers describe the penalty kick awarded to Manchester United against Roma as ‘very soft’ and argue that Harry Maguire deserved a red card in the second half.
Roma suffered a 3-2 loss to Manchester United on Tuesday in the Champions League.
Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano drew criticism from Italian media, mostly for two controversial second-half decisions.
Italian sports papers Corriere dello Sport, Tuttosport and Gazzetta dello Sport wrote that the penalty awarded to the Red Devils, converted by Bruno Fernandes, was ‘very soft.’
It came when Matheus Cunha’s left foot met Gianluca Mancini’s right knee inside the Giallorossi box and, according to Corriere, Manzano punished the Italian defender for negligence.
“However – wrote the newspaper – the opposite interpretation is also perfectly reasonable, as Cunha lifted his foot, catching Mancini’s knee.”
Fernandes missed the penalty, but the referee allowed a retake as Bryan Cristante had encroached into the penalty area.
It was a close call, a matter of centimeters, as Cristante’s foot was on the edge of the box when Bruno struck the ball. The Italian midfielder cleared it after Devis Vasquez saved it, so a retake was inevitable.
Both Corriere and Gazzetta rated Gil Manzano 4/10. Gazzetta wrote that the Spaniard ‘got everything wrong’ in the second half.
The other controversial incident came later in the game, when United had already equalised.
Maguire, already on a yellow card, deliberately brought Santiago Castro to the ground, appearing to strike him in a sensitive area. As Corriere dello Sport points out, the English defender should have seen a second yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
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