Did Harry Maguire get away with one? Premier League's ruling on hugely controversial cancelled Everton penalty involving Ashley Young revealed after Man Utd escaped with draw

United drew 2-2 with Everton in February in a match that ended in huge controversy. The Toffees were awarded a stoppage-time penalty when Ashley Young went to ground under a challenge by Harry Maguire but then saw the decision reversed after a VAR check, meaning Everton were denied the chance to score a potentially game-winning spot-kick. Everton were furious at the decision, while former referee Mark Halsey claimed  referee Andrew Madley was shown the wrong footage as Matthijs de Ligt had also pulled Young's shirt.

The KMI Panel has now ruled on the incident and says VAR was correct to intervene and overturn the decision. The five-member panel voted 4-1 that match referee Madley was wrong to award Young a spot-kick for the challenge by Maguire. However, there was no vote on the actions of De Ligt, according to ESPN.

The KMI panel noted: "The contact from the defenders doesn't match the exaggerated fall from the attacker." However, one member did disagree and took issue with De Ligt's actions, adding: "The referee should not have been sent to the monitor as it wasn't a clear and obvious error due to the foot-on-foot contact by Maguire and shirt pull on Young by De Ligt which wasn't shown to the referee."

The Premier League's KMI Panel was set up at the start of the 2022-23 season and is made up of five members. Three of the panel are former players and/or coaches, while there is also a representative from the Premier League and one from the PGMOL.

The VAR decision allowed United to preserve a precious point, after coming from 2-0 down, in what's been a disastrous season for the Red Devils. Ruben Amorim's side are back in action again on Thursday in the Europa League last 16 against Real Sociedad but will be without a host of players, including Maguire, due to injury.