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Manchester United’s Cameroon footballer was involved in a VAR-based controversy that unravelled during their Premier League loss to Chelsea.
Andre Onana has been under severe scrutiny in his time with Manchester United. (Image: AP)
Manchester United star Andre Onana is facing stern question marks following the VAR controversy that broke out during his club’s Premier League defeat against Chelsea. As United suffered a 0-1 loss at Stamford Bridge, commentators and experts criticised Onana’s decision to charge out at Tyrique George. The incident saw the match referee, Chris Kavanagh, initially calling it a foul and handing United a penalty. But an intervention from VAR official Craig Pawson later sent Kavanagh for a review on the pitchside monitor. Following a brief review, Kavanagh overturned his original call. The Premier League later stated that Onana’s act.
#CHEMUN – 61’ VAR OVERTURNVAR checked the referee’s call of penalty for the challenge by Onana on George and recommended an on-field review – with Onana deemed to have played the ball. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a drop ball.
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) May 16, 2025
“VAR checked the referee’s call of penalty for the challenge by Onana on George and recommended an on-field review, with Onana deemed to have played the ball. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a drop ball,” the Premier League Match Centre wrote on Twitter.
United’s icon Keane spoke on the VAR controversy after Onana’s foul, saying the footballer could’ve been a “little bit smarter” in his approach. “If he had just knocked it a bit wider and fallen into the goalkeeper, but, of course, he gets a touch on the ball and it’s the right decision. But I think I could have been a little bit smarter,” Keane told Sky Sports.
“If he had a bit more experience, I think he’d have knocked wide from him and he’d of made contact with the goalkeeper. He knows – there, look! He looks a bit guilty there, doesn’t he?”
Redknapp, the former Liverpool midfielder, said inexperience may have brought about the error from United’s young Cameroon footballer. “It was difficult. He’s not a striker. He’s played his career as a young academy player, as a wide player. All of a sudden, he’s playing against three experienced centre-backs trying to run the line. It was a tough night for him,” Redknapp said.
“It wasn’t ever going to be easy, but when you’re making your full debut, you want to play in your best position, but you don’t care, you just want to be out there. But the other thing I would say about that one, I don’t know what Onana’s doing. What is he doing? Just stay on your goal!”
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