FA make decision on Solskjaer and Shaw’s controversial comments after Chelsea draw

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Luke Shaw have both escaped FA punishment for controversial comments made about referee Stuart Atwell in the aftermath of their 0-0 draw against Chelsea.

Shaw was furious at full-time as United were denied a first-half penalty after Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi appeared to handle inside his own box.

Atwell was advised to check the potential penalty incident by his VAR assistant and decided against awarding a spot-kick after a second look at the pitch side monitor.

United were left frustrated as the referee stuck with his original decision despite clear evidence that the ball had struck Hudson-Odoi’s hand while it was in an unnatural position.

Shaw suggested at full-time that Atwell had said that the call was too controversial to overturn.

I don’t know why they stopped [the game] if it wasn’t going to be a pen. The ref even said to H (Harry Maguire), I heard him that ‘if I say it is a pen, then it is going to cause a lot of talk about it after’, so I don’t know what happened there,” Shaw told Sky Sports, as quoted by the MEN.

“H said that they got told it was a pen. He got told it was a penalty by VAR so I’m not sure what’s gone on. I don’t understand why he’s stopped. If he’s going to stop, you would think maybe he is going to give a pen, because we had the ball. We were attacking.”

Solskjaer was asked about Shaw’s comments in his post-match interview and discussed other external pressures influencing referees. 

“I can’t say, because that’s not going to be good for him [Atwell]. Of course it is [concerning]. I don’t want to cause controversy but that’s not right, is it,” he said.

“It’s all these outside influences, VAR talk from [Chelsea] about Harry — that’s cheeky putting it on their website, that’s influencing referees. You can read what they’re saying about Harry Maguire, putting pressure on referees to give penalties against us.

As per the Daily Mail, United backtracked on the comments made by Shaw post-match by claiming Shaw had been misheard.

And having heard the evidence, the FA’s independent regulation commission has chosen not to punish either Shaw or Solskjaer for their comments.

United are now preparing to face Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening as they look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League.

READ MORE: Luke Shaw set to learn fate today following shocking penalty claims, FA to consider ban

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