“It’s such a Shameful thing that a team like Man United cannot beat Leicester at Old Trafford, if not that they paid the REFEREE because it was their home to favor them we could have easily won them, I have reported them already to this TWO Suspicious Act that I saw yesterday,They won’t Escape this I promise”, Van Nistelrooy have finally respond to TWO Crazy things that happened at Old Trafford yesterday.

Ruud van Nistelrooy Blasts Referee and Manchester United After Controversial FA Cup Defeat

Leicester City coach Ruud van Nistelrooy did not hold back in his post-match press conference after his side’s controversial 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round. The Dutchman, clearly enraged by what he perceived as biased officiating, accused United of receiving undue favors from the referee and vowed to report two specific incidents that, in his view, unfairly influenced the game’s outcome.

His explosive remarks have ignited fresh debates about refereeing standards in English football and whether home teams enjoy an unfair advantage in high-stakes fixtures.

A Tense Battle at Old Trafford

The match at Old Trafford was expected to be a tough challenge for Leicester City, but they showed remarkable resilience. Despite United dominating possession in the early stages, Leicester took a surprise lead in the 42nd minute through Bobby De Cordova-Reid, capitalizing on a defensive lapse.

However, United fought back in the second half, with substitute Joshua Zirkzee leveling the score in the 68th minute. Then came the moment of controversy: in stoppage time, Harry Maguire headed in the winner from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick. Replays suggested that Maguire may have been offside, but with VAR not in use until the fifth round of the FA Cup, the goal stood.

This decision left van Nistelrooy furious.

Van Nistelrooy’s Explosive Claims

Speaking after the match, the former Manchester United striker did not mince his words.

“It’s such a shameful thing that a team like Manchester United cannot beat Leicester City at Old Trafford without external help. If not for the referee favoring them, we would have easily won the game. I have already reported two suspicious incidents that happened yesterday. They won’t escape this—I promise.”

Van Nistelrooy’s statement has raised eyebrows, with many wondering what exactly he is referring to. Leicester City fans were vocal in their frustration, believing their team had been robbed of a fair chance to advance.

The Two ‘Suspicious’ Incidents

Van Nistelrooy pointed out two key incidents that he believes changed the course of the game unfairly in United’s favor.

1. The Offside Goal
The most controversial moment of the night was Harry Maguire’s winning goal. Leicester’s players immediately protested, claiming Maguire was offside when the ball was delivered. Without VAR available at this stage of the FA Cup, the goal could not be reviewed, and the on-field decision stood.

Van Nistelrooy was livid about this:

“The assistant referee had a clear view. Everyone saw it. How can a professional referee miss that? It’s clear favoritism. In a competition like this, we need fairness, and what happened was not fair.”

Many Leicester fans and pundits have since called for VAR to be introduced earlier in the FA Cup to prevent such situations.

2. The Denied Penalty

Earlier in the second half, Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho was brought down inside the box after what appeared to be a late challenge from United defender Lisandro Martínez. The referee waved play on, and despite Leicester’s protests, no penalty was awarded.

Van Nistelrooy was furious about this decision as well:

“I don’t understand how that was not a penalty. Iheanacho was clearly taken down—there was contact, and everyone in the stadium saw it. Why was it ignored? It’s because it’s Old Trafford. The referee didn’t want to upset the home fans.”

He went on to suggest that these decisions were part of a broader pattern of refereeing bias at Manchester United’s home ground.

Ruben Amorim’s Response

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, who was also asked about van Nistelrooy’s comments, took a more measured approach:

“I understand Ruud’s frustration, but I don’t believe the referee favored us. These decisions happen in football. Sometimes they go in your favor, sometimes they don’t. Our focus is on improving as a team, and we respect Leicester for giving us a tough challenge.”

United fans dismissed van Nistelrooy’s claims as sour grapes, arguing that their team deserved the win based on their second-half performance.

The Aftermath: Will Leicester Appeal?
Leicester City has not officially filed a complaint yet, but sources suggest that the club is considering sending a formal request to the FA for a review of the officiating. While such complaints rarely lead to action, it could reignite discussions about implementing VAR at all stages of the competition.

Meanwhile, Leicester must shift their focus back to their league campaign, where they are fighting for promotion back to the Premier League. Van Nistelrooy, known for his passionate approach, will need to rally his squad and ensure they do not dwell too long on this setback.

Final Thoughts

Van Nistelrooy’s accusations have added another layer of drama to an already heated match. His claims of referee favoritism at Old Trafford will no doubt fuel further debates about fairness in English football. While Manchester United moves on in the FA Cup, Leicester City and their manager remain adamant that they were wronged.

Will this controversy fade away, or will it spark real changes in officiating standards? One thing is certain: van Nistelrooy is not letting this go anytime soon.
That’s a fiery reaction from Van Nistelrooy, and it’s no surprise given how close Leicester came to pulling off an upset. His accusations about Old Trafford favoritism will certainly add fuel to the ongoing debate about refereeing consistency and VAR in the FA Cup.

The offside call on Maguire’s winner will be talked about for a while, especially since VAR isn’t in place until the fifth round. As for the penalty shout on Iheanacho, those decisions are always subjective, but given Van Nistelrooy’s strong reaction, Leicester clearly felt hard done by.

Do you think his comments will lead to any real changes, like introducing VAR earlier in the competition? Or is this just another case of frustration boiling over?