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Oct 19, 2026, 8:50 AM GMT+1
Hal is an experienced freelance sports journalist at GiveMeSport, having previously produced content for websites such as Goal, football.london, HertsLive, 90min, The Set Pieces and many others.
Hal picked up his MA in Sports Journalism and NCTJ qualification from St Mary's University Twickenham, Hal has since been part of Valnet since late 2021.
He started as a freelance football writer for This Is Futbol and carried that on over to FootballFanCast before becoming their social media editor. He now works as an editor for GiveMeSport, predominantly focusing on Premier League, Champions League, and English football.
He also helps GiveMeSport cover other major sports such as MMA, boxing, darts, tennis, and golf. Key events like the summer and winter Olympics are also highlights when they appear on the sporting calendar.
Hal is an Arsenal and Three Lions fan, but keeps an eye on the All Blacks, his favourite rugby team, having grown up in New Zealand.
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A slow start to the season continued for Manchester United this weekend, as the Red Devils were held to a draw away at Leeds United. Michael Carrick's men now have seven points from their opening seven Premier League games – leaving them on course to finish the campaign with just 38 points if they don't pick up the pace.
Bryan Mbeumo scored an opener for Man Utd in the 35th minute, but the away team were unable to hold onto the lead. Dominic Calvert-Lewin made it 1-1 in the 51st minute, and that was enough to see things finish all square at Elland Road.
Leeds are playing well at the moment and in other circumstances a point on the road wouldn't necessarily be the worst result, but with just one win in the league to date, it does little to ease the pressure on Carrick. Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett, however, has suggested the Red Devils were fortunate to walk away with anything from the game, as one Man Utd star ought to have been punished for a potential foul in his own box.
Speaking to MOT Leeds News, the ex-Premier League referee claimed that Harry Maguire did enough to give away a penalty in the 63rd minute. The incident in question saw the English defender drag Ethan Ampadu to the ground at a corner kick.
Referee Darren England did not point to the spot, though, and the team on VAR were happy to uphold the on-field decision. Hackett slammed Maguire for his actions, calling him a 'serial offender' who often gets away with similar incidents when defending set pieces:
"Maguire, let’s face it, is a serial offender at corner kicks and will continue to use his hands and arms illegally until someone determines that a penalty kick should be awarded.
"Maguire has committed a foul challenge and England should have penalised it with a penalty kick.
"VAR, in attempt to stay low key, decides not to come in, but he should have do done to allow England the opportunity to have a replay of the incident at the monitor."
Hackett also had a theory as to why England didn't spot the foul. The former head of the PGMOL (now Pro Ref) claimed that the referee was suffering from 'mental exhaustion' having been on VAR duty for Liverpool's away win at Brentford the day before.
Noting how Ampadu also should've been booked for a reckless challenge on Mbeumo, he stated: "Darren England should have produced a yellow card for this clear reckless challenge.
"Perhaps because he was close he was unable to determine the speed of the challenge accurately.
"He was VAR on the Brentford game v Liverpool yesterday and witnessed two red cards! A busy weekend and in my opinion should only receive one appointment in order to fully recover. It’s the mental exhaustion."
Man Utd have a busy schedule too, as they travel away to Italy in the Champions League this week to take on Como before returning to Old Trafford with Bournemouth up next in the Premier League. Leeds, now seventh in the league, face Sunderland away from home in their next outing.
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