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Man City get emphatic Elliot Anderson handball verdict amid Sunderland and Arsenal frustration

Manchester City avoided conceding a penalty during the thrilling 5-3 victory over Sunderland in the Premier League

By Jack Flintham · Manchester Evening News

Published: Monday, 21 September 2026 at 12:35 PM

Key Things to Know

Manchester City defeated Sunderland 5-3 in a Premier League match.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher stated officials made the right decision not to award Sunderland a penalty.
The incident involved Elliot Anderson's arm after a tussle with Enzo Le Fee.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher confirmed that match officials correctly decided against awarding Sunderland a penalty during their 5-3 defeat to Manchester City. The disputed second-half incident occurred when the ball struck midfielder Elliot Anderson's arm while tussling with Enzo Le Fee. Referee Robert Jones and VAR official Michael Salisbury opted not to penalize the contact.

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris stated following the match that he believed a penalty should have been given. However, Gallagher explained on Ref Watch that the ball ricocheted off a Sunderland player before inadvertently striking Anderson as he turned, making it not a deliberate handball.

Read the full article on Manchester Evening News

Man City get emphatic Elliot Anderson handball verdict amid Sunderland and Arsenal frustration

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