Sunderland were controversially denied a penalty during their defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.The Black Cats’ 5-3 defeat at the Etihad Stadium could have been different had Elliot Anderson been penalised for a handball inside the City penalty area.Sunderland were denied a penalty for handball during their loss to CityGettyThe midfielder appeared to swat the ball away with his hand whilst jostling for possession with Enzo Le Fee.Anderson then hooked the ball clear as the Sunderland man appealed for a spot-kick.Sunderland denied a penaltyHis calls for a penalty fell on deaf ears, though, with referee Robert Jones opting not to award a spot-kick.VAR also decided against intervening to overturn the on-field decision.talkSPORT understands the officials deemed Anderson’s handball as accidental. As a result, he was not penalised despite the ball hitting his hand.That’s not how Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris saw it, saying post-match: “It was hard to see that as not a handball.“It is what it is and we have to accept the decision. It’s hard to comment.”Busy afternoon for VARIt was not the only contentious decision VAR had to deal with during the match.Erling Haaland’s late strike was initially ruled out for offside by the assistant referee.However, a VAR review determined Josko Gvardiol had been onside during the build-up, with the goal awarded.View Tweet: https://t.co/zwMd8KAiQQExplaining the decision on X, the Premier League Match Centre said: “VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal for offside and determined that Gvardiol was in an offside position in the build-up and recommended that the goal was awarded.”Haaland’s effort nine minutes from time completed the scoring on a frantic afternoon in Manchester.City had twice been pegged back by Brian Brobbey during the first half after Enzo Fernandez and Rayan Cherki put them ahead.A brace from Antoine Semenyo either side of half-time established a two-goal advantage, though.Brobbey completed his hat-trick just two minutes later to reapply the pressure to Enzo Maresca’s side.Haaland’s fifth Premier League goal of the season was ultimately enough to clinch all three points for his side and maintain their 100 per cent record.Le Bris admitted it was ‘hard’ not to see his side receive a penalty for the incidentGetty