Leny Yoro Receives Support from Manchester United Teammates

In a dramatic match on September 24, 2023, Leny Yoro faced a challenging moment during Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace. The young French player committed a foul against fellow countryman Jean-Philippe Mateta, leading to a penalty for Crystal Palace. Mateta initially missed the penalty, but due to a recent rule change, he was granted a second attempt, which he successfully converted, putting Palace ahead in the 36th minute.

The penalty incident has sparked considerable debate among players and former officials alike. According to recent changes by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), a “double-touch penalty” must be retaken if the ball enters the goal from the original kick, provided the infringement was unintentional. This rule was amended following controversy during the UEFA Champions League last-16 tie between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid earlier in March 2023. During that match, Julian Alvarez’s slip led to a similar situation, but he was not permitted to retake his penalty.

As the match progressed, Manchester United rallied back with goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount, ultimately securing the win. Yoro was substituted six minutes before the hour mark, visibly affected by the incident. After the final whistle, Mason Mount offered words of comfort to Yoro in recognition of the difficult circumstances he faced at Selhurst Park.

Following the match, Yoro took to Instagram to reflect on his experience. He posted, “Challenging days – Mindset locked in – Work on,” accompanied by a quote from Proverbs 24:16: “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” His message resonated with teammates, as Luke Shaw and Bruno Fernandes expressed their support through social media interactions. Several players, including Amad, Bryan Mbeumo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Lisandro Martinez, showed their solidarity by liking Yoro’s post.

The incident prompted discussions about the implications of the new rule. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher shared his perspective on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, stating, “This is a first in the Premier League because the law was amended because of [Julian] Alvarez in the Champions League. What they decided now is that because it’s accidental and he’s scored, it’s a retake. If he missed, it would’ve been an indirect free-kick.” Gallagher emphasized the fairness of the decision, noting that a slip during the penalty should not be penalized further.

Contrastingly, former player Jay Bothroyd expressed his disagreement with the rule change. He argued, “You step up to take a penalty and you plant your foot and touch the ball; it’s bad technique. If you take a bad touch, it’s just a bad touch. That’s his fault. He shouldn’t get the opportunity to take it again for his mistake.”

As Manchester United looks to build on this victory, Yoro’s experience serves as a reminder of the challenges players face on the pitch. With the support of his teammates and the lessons learned, he aims to bounce back stronger in future matches.