- West Ham United suffered a VAR-fueled defeat to Arsenal
- The Hammers had a stoppage-time equaliser ruled out
- Roy Keane backs the final decision
West Ham United’s VAR-fueled defeat to Arsenal has seen one of the most divisive decisions of the Premier League season split many prominent pundits.
For the majority of the game, the Hammers held off the title-chasing Gunners, and even when Leandro Trossard put Arsenal in front in the 83rd minute, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side did not wilt in their ambition to snatch a result, as evidenced by Callum Wilson’s effort.
Wilson’s stoppage-time equaliser momentarily looked enough to keep West Ham’s survival hopes alive, but after video assistant referee intervention by referee Chris Kavanagh, the English striker’s goal was disallowed for an infringement by fellow substitute Pablo Fornals on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
West Ham are expected to file an official complaint with the PGMOL after claiming that the check’s lengthy duration indicates it was, by the rulebook, not a clear-and-obvious error.’
Sky Sports’ Roy Keane backs West Ham vs Arsenal decision
Following the game, Roy Keane revealed his stance on Sky Sports on why he believes VAR and referee Kavanagh made the correct decision to deny West Ham’s goal.
“VAR are going to check everything… do not put your hands on the goalkeeper! Certainly don’t leave them on for three or four seconds,” Keane said on Sky Sports.
“Obviously it was madness and there’s loads of other fouls, there’s all sorts going on, but because the goalkeeper has such a big part to play, I think it is a foul.
“He must know they’re going to check VAR, he’s pulling his jersey. There’s all sorts going on. You talk about the discipline… do not give a foul away.”
Keane’s explanations contrast with his former Manchester United teammate Peter Schmeichel, who claimed the process was “wrong.”
