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‘A cheek’: BBC pundit makes Ruben Neves observation after Paul Pogba challenge

Photo by Tim Keeton - Pool/Getty Images
Photo by Tim Keeton - Pool/Getty Images
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Ruben Neves
Photo by Wolverhampton Wanderers FC/Wolves via Getty Images

Garth Crooks has given his take on the controversial incident involving Paul Pogba and Ruben Neves during the Premier League game between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at the weekend, as quoted on BBC Sport.

What’s the story?

United beat Wolves 1-0 in the Premier League yesterday, thanks to a controversial goal from Mason Greenwood.

There are suggestions that United star Pogba committed a foul on fellow midfielder Neves in the build-up to the goal.

Referee Mike Dean saw the incident, but he decided not to award a foul to Wolves.

What does Garth Crooks think?

It was a controversial decision that has divided opinion among pundits and rival fans.

Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Crooks has given his take on the situation.

As you can gather from his comments below, the BBC pundit has taken the side of Pogba, pointing out Neves’s reaction to the challenge from the United midfielder. 

Ruben Neves arsenal
Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Crooks wrote on BBC Sport: “This wasn’t Manchester United’s finest hour at Wolves, but they got the result, partly due to De Gea’s brilliance and Pogba’s determination. The talking point in this fixture was Pogba’s tackle on Ruben Neves before Mason Greenwood’s goal.

“To begin with, the France international won a ball he wasn’t entitled to win. But he did, courtesy of Mike Dean. Had Neves gone down initially, instead of looking at the referee after the ball had been retained by United, then he would have got the free-kick.

“But to go to ground after you’ve taken two steps following the tackle, turned around and looked at the referee having lost the ball was a cheek.”

Ruben Neves Wolves Arsenal
Ruben Neves of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on March 16, 2019 in Wolverhampton, England. (James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)

Does Garth Crooks have a point?

Crooks has made a very good observation about Neves.

If you look at the clip below, it does seem like that.

It was a very controversial decision from the referee nevertheless, and one that will be debated upon in the coming days.