Hero to Zero: Did VAR Save Manchester United in the Lacroix Red Card Drama?
Old Trafford witnessed another afternoon of officiating theater as Manchester United came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1. While Benjamin Šeško’s late winner took the headlines, the real turning point was a controversial 56th-minute VAR intervention that saw Maxence Lacroix—Palace’s goal-scoring hero—sent for an early shower.
The Incident Breakdown
The Incident: Penalty and Red Card (56th Minute)
Crystal Palace was leading 1-0 thanks to an early header from Maxence Lacroix. However, the game flipped when Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha burst into the box and was brought down by Lacroix.
The On-Field Call: Referee Chris Kavanagh initially pointed to the spot for a penalty.
The VAR Review: Tony Harrington (VAR) advised Kavanagh to check the pitchside monitor to review the severity of the sanction (DOGSO).
The Final Decision: Kavanagh confirmed the penalty and upgraded Lacroix’s punishment to a straight Red Card.
The foul starts outside the box but continues into the penalty area. Under FIFA law, if a holding offense continues into the area, it is a penalty.” — Official Match Center Statement.
The Analysis
The VAR Verdict: Was it Correct?
This decision is a “technicality” win for United, but strictly follows the 2026 officiating guidelines:
The “Double Punishment” Rule
Because Lacroix made no genuine attempt to play the ball (he pulled Cunha’s shoulder), the “Double Jeopardy” rule does not apply. In this case, both a penalty AND a red card are the correct application of the law for Denial of an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO).
Location of the Foul
Replays show the contact started just outside the area. However, because the “holding” continued until Cunha was inside the box, a penalty is the mandatory restart according to the latest IFAB clarifications.
Conclusion
Final Verdict
Manchester United capitalized on the man advantage, with Bruno Fernandes converting the penalty. For Crystal Palace, it’s a bitter pill to swallow—losing their best defender and the lead in one single VAR sequence.
Our Verdict: Technically Correct, but Harsh.
