'He's cleaned him out!' - Man Utd fans rage at VAR as penalty calls ignored for 'out of control' Wesley Fofana tackle on Marcus Rashford

Just as Rashford tried to flash a pass across the six-yard box, Chelsea defender Fofana caught the England international with a nasty-looking challenge in the 23rd minute of the game at Old Trafford on Sunday. Very little was made of the incident during the match coverage but Red Devils fans on social media thought the video assistant referee should have awarded them a spot-kick.

@CraigCharles23 wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Why isn’t VAR checking the high foot from Fofana on Rashford then? He’s cleaned him out. F*****g useless officiating yet again."

@Doc_Joshi tweeted: "Awful challenge on Rashford as well. Fofana studs up, both feet in the air, out of control and catches his ankle. Obviously just play on right?"

@suheilsalah_ commented: "Anywhere else on the pitch, that challenge from Fofana on Rashford is given as a foul btw."

@BishopTips0 put: "Fofana’s play against Rashford would have been a penalty if it was the other way around."

Finally, @Fabian_Manu1999 added: "Anybody See the Foul from fofana in Rashford????? CLEAR PENALTY WTF MAN." and @Qudus_Kii tweeted: "Fofana’s challenge on Rashford. VAR?? Nothing?? But you can intervene for a collision with the most minimal contact when ref played on?.. oookay..."

After sacking manager Erik ten Hag earlier this week, United are trying to come through unscathed under interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy before passing on the reins to incoming coach Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table and need results quickly to turn their season around.

After Chelsea, United take a break from Premier League action when they host PAOK in their next Europa League match on Thursday. Chelsea entertain Noah in the Europa Conference League on the same day.