Manchester United players and ex-footballers have expressed strong views regarding the Amad penalty controversy from Friday's 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. With United leading by a goal, Amad seemed to be brought down by Adrien Truffert inside the penalty area, but Stuart Atwell dismissed the protests, with the Cherries levelling shortly afterwards.

It subsequently emerged that theclub would be submitting a complaint to the PGMOL, with multiple players frustrated by the verdict. Ex-Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna concurred with those sentiments but emphasised that submitting an official complaint is futile.

He said: "Man United should've been awarded a penalty. If this foul is committed in the middle of the pitch, there are no doubts about the right decision. There isn't much point in filing a complaint – the game has been played and there's no reversing the decision. VAR is good, but the problem lies in how it is used and who uses it."

"If a former player is managing VAR and the replays, they would've given that penalty, because they would've identified the defender is in an unnatural position and commits a foul.

"But instead, the referees don't give the foul." United did receive a form of explanation from the Premier League through their official Match Centre account on X clarifying why VAR failed to step in.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE!Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

• Man Utd receive more support over Amad penalty fury as referee urged to explain himself

• Michael Carrick handed huge boost over landing Man Utd job as update on talks emerge

Their post stated: "#BOUMUN – 67' The referee's call of no penalty for a challenge by Truffert was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed the contact was not sufficient for a foul."

In the aftermath of the clash, frustration largely stemmed from Harry Maguire conceding a penalty and being sent off for a challenge not that different. The United defender took to Instagram to make his feelings clear about the two decisions.

He stated: "So soft but that's where football is at atm and I should know better. You would think both decisions would reach the same outcome. We will be back after the break. Safe travel home reds , your support has been unbelievable."

United skipper Bruno Fernandes addressed Sky Sports afterwards and was predictably questioned about the penalty incidents.

He remarked: "I know it's difficult for the referee to give two penalties to the same team in one game but I don't understand why VAR doesn't get involved in that situation or with Harry [Maguire] because either one is a penalty and so is the other or none of them are.

"I think the other situation is a penalty but I also think the one on Amad is a penalty and that could've changed the game." Those two significant decisions from Atwell also took centre stage in Michael Carrick's press conference, with the 44 year old left flabbergasted that only one penalty was awarded.

United's temporary head coach stated: "He's definitely got one of them wrong because he's given one penalty for us for the same thing that he's not given one. There's a two-arm grab. The Matheus one he gives, the second one on Amad he doesn't, which I think is almost identical, really.

"If you have two hands on someone in the box and they go over and they're in control of the ball, for me it's two penalties. It will be interesting to see which one they acknowledge is wrong: the one we got or the one we didn't get.

"It's a huge moment. They don't give it, they go down the other end and score and then it becomes all of a sudden, 'oh, it needs to be a bigger penalty to overturn,' just because they scored, when actually it's a penalty and it should be a penalty if you've already given one.

"It's baffling really to make sense of that. And because they score, the game flips a little bit and changes. We defended with the 10 men after all that very well. But the penalty one is just astonishing, I have to say. One of them must be wrong."

The man opposite him in the dugout on Friday evening, Andoni Iraola, disclosed his contrasting viewpoint after the draw.

Speaking on Match of the Day, the Cherries boss stated: "Now we have the advantage we can see replays quickly and I didn't think there was anything in that one [Amad]. I think the Evanilson one and the Matheus Cunha one are both penalties because defenders lose the position and then the Amad one is never a penalty.

"We asked for one in the first half – Harry Maguire with two hands behind his back – but I don't think that was enough for a penalty either. I don't think there is much to discuss."

He further commented in his post-match press conference: "I would add another incident, I think there are four incidents. The two penalties they've called are clear penalties, the defenders involved in both situations lose their position and have to commit a foul."

"The Amad penalty I don't think is a penalty, there is no contact and he goes to the floor very light. We complained also about the first half, two hands behind the back, Maguire on Evanilson, but I don't think it's enough in the same way to call a penalty.

"I think the decisions in the four cases are correct. I've had time to review them and I think the big decision they have got it right."

Numerous former professionals turned pundits were also available to offer their opinions, with United receiving an immediate verdict from their ex-striker Andy Cole.

"I think the difference he is denying a goal scoring, just cause of the momentum Harry puts his arm out," he said on Sky Sports. "I think it's harsh. It's a great touch, so I'm not going down, but in today's game, for me it is a penalty. When we were playing, no chance."

"It's [a] very physical [challenge] in today's game. We'll see with the another penalty in a minute that Harry Maguire gets sent off for, if I'm in that position I'm not going down so I don't think it is a penalty."

Despite the match occurring on Friday night, the contentious moments have continued to dominate conversation more than 48 hours later. Gary Lineker has emerged as the most recent pundit to challenge Atwell's judgement.

He said on the Rest is Football podcast: "Manchester United got a point. Let's discuss [what] came first. They got a point. They look in good shape, really, in third."

"I mean, that twist of, you know, they go one up and then there's another penalty shout, which did really look like a penalty."

"And then for the team to go to the other end of the pitch and score, it's like a double whammy against them. And then Maguire gets sent off for something that was quite similar to the one earlier on."

Co-host Alan Shearer added: "I think the referee messed up in that. I mean, if you're going to give one of those, then you have to give the others as well for me. I think he messed up."

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us - and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.