Referee group agrees with Manchester United over wall error but names same ref vs Nottingham Forest

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) accepted referee Anthony Taylor incorrectly moved Manchester United's wall further back for Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne's free-kick.

Digne put Villa 2-0 up in the 11th minute of their 3-1 win over United on November 6 but the visitors' wall appeared to be more distant than the usual 10 yards.

As Taylor was miked up, United were able to access the audio interaction between the official and Christian Eriksen, who noticed United's wall was more distant than necessary.

United sources say Eriksen politely informed Taylor of the discrepancy but was tersely ignored. United officials contacted PGMOL Select Group 1 Manager Jon Moss, who agreed Taylor had erred and assured he would be spoken to.

Taylor has not refereed a Premier League game since but will take charge of United's Premier League fixture with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening.

United and Villa each received three bookings in what was the Midlands club's first home league victory over United since August 1995.

After the defeat, United manager Erik ten Hag said: "I think the free-kick is stoppable because the wall is too far. Okay, a small detail but details make the difference in top football. It tells everything from us because we were not fresh."

Wythenshawe-born Taylor refereed at the World Cup but did not officiate beyond the group stage. South Korea coach Paulo Bento received a touchline ban for angrily confronting Taylor at the end of their 3-2 defeat to Ghana.