Wayne Rooney erupts in anger after Dean Henderson avoids red card in FA Cup final

In a moment that has sparked intense debate across the football world, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has called for the abolition of VAR following a controversial incident involving Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson during Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.

The incident, which occurred during a tense first half, saw Henderson handle the ball outside his penalty area to prevent City’s prolific striker Erling Haaland from advancing toward goal. Despite clear evidence of the infringement, Henderson was allowed to remain on the pitch after VAR officials determined that both the ball and Haaland were moving away from goal—a technicality within the laws of the game that prevented what many believed should have been a certain red card.

“It’s beyond ridiculous at this point,” Rooney stated emphatically in his post-match analysis. “The whole point of bringing technology into football was to make the correct decisions, but we’re seeing time and again that it’s creating more problems than solutions. Henderson clearly handled outside the box to deny a goalscoring opportunity—in any era before VAR, that’s a straight red card without question.”

The former England captain continued: “This is exactly why I believe we need to get rid of VAR altogether and return to letting referees make decisions on the field. The game is losing its essence, its flow, and most importantly, its consistency in how rules are applied. Today’s decision defies logic for anyone who understands football.”

Palace Take Shock Lead Through Eze Brilliance

The controversy came during an enthralling opening to the match which had already seen Crystal Palace take a surprising lead through Eberechi Eze in the 16th minute. The talented England international produced a moment of sheer brilliance, cutting inside from the left flank before curling an unstoppable right-footed shot beyond Ederson into the top corner of the City net.

Eze’s goal triggered euphoric celebrations from the Palace supporters gathered on the east side of Wembley Stadium, with manager Oliver Glasner leaping from his technical area in jubilation. For a club competing in just their third-ever FA Cup final, the prospect of causing a major upset against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City suddenly seemed tantalizingly possible.

“The execution was absolutely perfect,” remarked BBC commentator Guy Mowbray at the time. “That’s the kind of quality that gives underdogs belief. Eze has been Palace’s talisman all season, and he’s chosen the perfect moment to deliver another spectacular goal.”

The goal represented the culmination of Eze’s remarkable personal journey from being released by Arsenal as a youngster to becoming one of the Premier League’s most exciting attacking talents. His performance in the opening stages of the final showcased exactly why he has become such a coveted player, with his blend of close control, acceleration, and finishing ability causing persistent problems for City’s usually resolute defense.

Henderson’s Controversial Escape and Penalty Heroics

Manchester City’s response to falling behind was predictably forceful, with Guardiola’s side immediately stepping up their intensity and dominating possession. Their pressure appeared to have paid dividends when Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva was brought down in the Palace penalty area following a slick passing move involving Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne.

Referee Anthony Taylor pointed immediately to the spot, presenting City with a golden opportunity to equalize. As Erling Haaland—City’s designated penalty taker with an exceptional conversion rate—placed the ball on the spot, few inside Wembley doubted the outcome.

What followed, however, was one of the most unusual penalty routines witnessed in an FA Cup final. After a lengthy pause, Haaland stunned spectators by rolling the ball sideways to City’s Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush, who had begun his run into the box as Haaland approached the ball. The audacious routine, reminiscent of Johan Cruyff and Jesper Olsen’s famous penalty for Ajax in 1982, or more recently Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez for Barcelona, represented an extraordinary risk in such a high-stakes match.

Henderson, displaying remarkable concentration and reflexes, was not fooled by the deception. The Palace goalkeeper dove correctly to his right, producing a spectacular one-handed save to deny Marmoush and preserve Palace’s advantage. The stop prompted wild celebrations from Palace supporters and visible frustration from Guardiola on the City bench.

Newcastle United legend and BBC pundit Alan Shearer expressed his astonishment at City’s penalty strategy: “There’s no way anyone is saying to me ‘you’re not taking a penalty today if we get a penalty today,'” the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer remarked. “When you have someone with Haaland’s record from the spot, that decision is genuinely baffling. In a cup final, you take no chances—you let your best penalty taker do what he does best.”

On Henderson’s earlier escape from potential dismissal, Shearer added: “Dean Henderson was slightly fortunate. The law is that he’s running away from goal, but Henderson’s also stopping a possible goal-scoring opportunity. I’ve seen those given as red cards plenty of times before.”

The Contentious Handball Incident Explained

The controversy surrounding Henderson’s handball occurred approximately thirty minutes into the first half. A lofted through ball from City’s Rodri had sent Haaland racing clear of the Palace defense with Henderson advancing from his goal to narrow the angle. Realizing he wouldn’t reach the ball before Haaland, Henderson made the split-second decision to dive forward outside his penalty area, blocking Haaland’s attempted chip with his outstretched arm.

Referee Taylor immediately blew for the infringement and awarded City a free-kick in a dangerous position approximately 22 yards from goal. However, to the evident surprise of many, Taylor produced only a yellow card for Henderson rather than the red card many City players were vehemently demanding.

The VAR team, led by David Coote at Stockley Park, conducted a review of the incident to determine whether Henderson had denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity—an offense that would require a red card. After a two-minute delay, Coote communicated to Taylor that no clear error had been made in showing only a yellow card, citing the direction of Haaland’s run and the ball as moving slightly away from goal, with Palace defenders Marc Guéhi and Joachim Andersen potentially in position to cover.

This interpretation of the laws left City players and staff visibly incensed, with Guardiola engaging in an animated discussion with fourth official Michael Oliver. Television replays showed the incident from multiple angles, with former referees providing divided opinions on social media about the correct decision—further highlighting the subjective nature of such calls even with technological assistance.

“This is precisely the problem with VAR,” Rooney elaborated. “We’re trying to apply mathematical precision to decisions that have always involved referee judgment. Henderson knew exactly what he was doing—he deliberately handled outside the box because Haaland would have scored otherwise. In what universe is that not denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity?”

The incident has reignited the ongoing debate about VAR’s implementation in English football, with numerous pundits and former players echoing Rooney’s sentiments about returning to a system that prioritizes the on-field referee’s judgment without technological intervention.

City’s Season of Disappointment

The FA Cup final represents Manchester City’s last opportunity to salvage silverware from what has been, by their exceptionally high standards, a disappointing 2024-25 campaign. Having dominated English football under Guardiola’s leadership since 2017, this season has seen them surrender their Premier League crown to Arsenal after four consecutive titles, while also exiting the Champions League at the quarter-final stage against Real Madrid.

The prospect of ending the season without a trophy would have been unthinkable when the campaign began, particularly given City’s historic treble-winning achievements just two seasons ago. The pressure on Guardiola’s team has intensified throughout the match, with the Catalan coach making several tactical adjustments to counter Palace’s resolute defensive organization.

“We’re witnessing perhaps the first genuine signs that this remarkable City era might be approaching its natural conclusion,” observed former England defender Rio Ferdinand during the BBC’s pre-match coverage. “Every dynasty in football eventually faces challenges, and City’s unprecedented consistency was always going to be impossible to maintain indefinitely. However, writing them off would be extremely foolish—they remain an exceptional team with world-class players.”

For Guardiola himself, the FA Cup represents a competition that has provided mixed fortunes during his tenure at the Etihad Stadium. City claimed the trophy in 2023 with a convincing victory over Manchester United at Wembley, with Ilkay Gündogan scoring twice in a memorable 2-1 win. However, they suffered a surprising defeat to the same opponents in last year’s final, with United producing an against-the-odds performance to deny City consecutive FA Cup triumphs.

“This competition matters enormously to Pep, perhaps more than people realize,” explained former City defender Micah Richards. “He’s someone who wants to win everything, and he takes enormous pride in his record in English football. Finishing a season without silverware would be something he hasn’t experienced since his first year at City.”

Palace’s Historic Cup Final Appearance

For Crystal Palace, the occasion represents just their third FA Cup final appearance in the club’s 119-year history, highlighting the extraordinary achievement of reaching Wembley under Austrian manager Oliver Glasner, who only took charge at Selhurst Park in February.

The Eagles’ previous final appearances ended in disappointment, losing to Manchester United on both occasions—first in 1990 when Steve Coppell’s side were defeated 1-0 after a replay, and again in 2016 when Alan Pardew’s team suffered a 2-1 defeat courtesy of Jesse Lingard’s spectacular extra-time winner.

Reaching this year’s final represents a remarkable turnaround for Palace, who were hovering dangerously above the Premier League relegation zone when Glasner replaced Roy Hodgson. The former Eintracht Frankfurt coach, who led the German side to Europa League glory in 2022, has transformed Palace’s fortunes with a more progressive tactical approach that has maximized the talents of players like Eze, Michael Olise, and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

“What Glasner has accomplished in such a short time is nothing short of phenomenal,” noted former Palace midfielder Darren Ambrose. “He’s instilled genuine belief within that squad and implemented a tactical system that allows their creative players to flourish while maintaining defensive solidity. Regardless of today’s outcome, Palace supporters should be enormously proud of what this team has achieved.”

Speaking before the match, Glasner acknowledged the historical significance of the occasion for Palace but insisted his team would not be overawed by facing the Premier League giants.

“If something is the first time in your life then maybe it means more to you than when you have it every single year,” the Austrian manager observed. “City, I don’t know how many trophies they’ve won and finals they have played in under Pep. It’s definitely more than Crystal Palace.”

He continued with characteristic determination: “But for the players, the manager, the club, winning a title is something great in the season. I don’t expect that they will wave us the white flag and say: ‘Okay, it’s the first title for Crystal Palace, you should get it’. I think they will fight to win it.”

That fighting spirit has been evident throughout Palace’s cup run, which has included impressive victories over Brighton, Southampton, and a memorable quarter-final triumph against Liverpool at Anfield. Their semi-final performance against Chelsea was particularly noteworthy, with Palace producing a tactically perfect display to secure a 2-0 victory through goals from Mateta and Olise.

Historical Context and Wider Implications

The controversy surrounding Henderson’s escape from dismissal adds another chapter to the ongoing saga of VAR’s implementation in English football since its introduction in 2019. The technology has remained divisive among supporters, players, and managers alike, with frequent calls for its removal or substantial reform.

Wayne Rooney’s outspoken criticism carries particular weight given his status as one of English football’s most decorated players. The former Manchester United and England captain has experienced both sides of controversial decisions throughout his illustrious career, making his perspective on technological assistance in officiating especially noteworthy.

“When legends of the game like Wayne Rooney speak out this forcefully against VAR, the football authorities need to listen,” suggested former referee Keith Hackett. “The current implementation is clearly not delivering what was promised, and we’re seeing increasing frustration from everyone involved in the sport.”

The debate extends beyond the technical application of rules to fundamental questions about how technology is changing football’s essential character. Many traditionalists argue that the constant delays and microscopic analysis of incidents are eroding the spontaneous joy and natural flow that made the sport globally popular.

However, proponents of technology maintain that greater accuracy in decision-making, particularly for crucial match-defining moments, outweighs concerns about disruption to the game’s rhythm. They point to statistics showing increased correctness in final decisions since VAR’s introduction, even while acknowledging ongoing issues with consistency and interpretation.

What seems clear from the Henderson incident is that even with technological assistance, football’s rules still require human interpretation, especially regarding concepts like “denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity” that cannot be reduced to purely objective criteria.

Looking Forward

As the FA Cup final continues to unfold, the Henderson controversy will undoubtedly remain a talking point regardless of the final outcome. For Palace, Henderson’s penalty heroics and earlier escape from dismissal could prove pivotal in their quest for a first major trophy since their 1991 Full Members Cup triumph.

For Manchester City, the frustration of the penalty miss and the perceived injustice of Henderson remaining on the pitch presents an additional mental challenge as they seek to avoid a rare trophyless season under Guardiola’s management.

The incident also raises important questions for football’s governing bodies about the future direction of technological assistance in officiating. With figures as prominent as Wayne Rooney calling for VAR’s complete removal, the pressure continues to build for a comprehensive review of how technology is implemented within the sport.

As the debate continues both on and off the pitch, one thing remains certain: football’s ability to generate passion, controversy, and endless discussion shows no sign of diminishing—with or without technological intervention