Harry Maguire’s controversial goal put Manchester United 2-1 ahead against Ipswich Town at Old Trafford, but the goal immediately triggered a VAR check after the ball appeared to strike the defender’s hand during the build-up.

However, there was an important detail behind the decision: the goal was ultimately credited as an own goal to Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves, rather than to Maguire. The ball took a deflection off Greaves before finding the net.

Why did Harry Maguire goal stand despite Handball?

That distinction is crucial under the handball law. An accidental handball by an attacking player is not automatically punishable unless it meets the criteria for an offence. More importantly, the specific rule concerning an accidental handball immediately before a goal applies when the player who handled the ball is the one who subsequently scores.

Here, Maguire did not end up being recorded as the goalscorer. His effort was deflected by Greaves and officially went down as an own goal. Therefore, the accidental hand contact in the build-up was not sufficient grounds to cancel the goal.

VAR checked the incident, but found no punishable handball that required the goal to be overturned. So while Maguire’s hand clearly became part of the debate, the fact that Greaves’ deflection resulted in an own goal was a key reason the goal stood.

The Red Devils took a 2-1 lead with Maguire’s goal, and soon extended it to 3-1 as Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot.