Manchester United v Sunderland: Why was visitors' first-half penalty overturned?

Sunderland were awarded a penalty against Manchester United on Saturday for a high foot from striker Benjamin Sesko - but the decision was overturned after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

Referee Stuart Atwell announced inside Old Trafford that there was no foul by Sesko as no contact was made with the head of Sunderland defender Trai Hume.

"After review, there is no foul by the Manchester United player," said Atwell. "There is no contact with the head of the attacker.

"As the ball is out of play when the decision was made, the final decision is a corner kick."

According to law 12.2 of the International Football Authorities Board's laws on fouls and misconduct, a foul may still be awarded if a challenge is deemed to be dangerous or impedes the progress of a play without contact being made.

However, in this instance an indirect free-kick is given rather than a direct free-kick or penalty.

Therefore, even if the referee decided Sesko had committed a foul, VAR would not intervene to award an indirect free-kick.

Following a long throw-in by Sunderland's Nordi Mukiele, Sesko raised his foot to clear the ball while Hume tried to head it deeper into the penalty area.

Hume went down holding his face and a penalty was awarded, although replays showed only the ball made contact with Hume's head and Sesko moved his foot away from Hume as the ball came towards him.

Referee Atwell did not award the penalty initially, only giving it following consultation with one of his assistant referees, before VAR stepped in to review the decision.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

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