- West Ham lost 1-0 to Arsenal on Sunday
- VAR controversially ruled out a late equaliser for the Hammers
- A number of Irons players have called out the decision
West Ham United lost to Arsenal of Sunday afternoon in a game where the Hammers held their own for much of the game. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team thought they had earned themselves a point, keeping their Premier League survival hopes alive, only for VAR to controversially rule the goal out.
Callum Wilson, the Hammers match winner against Everton, was the player who thought he had netted the winner. Jarrod Bowen swung in a corner into a crowded penalty area, the ball rebounded out of the six-yard box, with Wilson ready to smash home.
Former Iron, Declan Rice, thought he had blocked the shot, but he was well inside the net by the time the ball collided with him. At first, many thought the check was for a handball on Rice, but with him being behind the line, it would not have mattered.
Instead the check was to see if Pablo Felipe had fouled David Raya, which VAR ruled he had. This was even though, a number of fouls were seen from either side, leaving it to be deemed highly questionable you could decide in favour of one side.
Many of West Ham‘s players, including Tomas Soucek and Mads Hermansen have condemned the decision, and they are not alone, with the Hammers captain agreeing.
Jarrod Bowen calls for consistency from VAR
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, West Ham captain Bowen, called for consistent decision from VAR and more clarity of the rules of the game.
“A real blow. We thought we’d done so well to get back in it and had it taken away from us,” Bowen said.
“When you look at the screen for five minutes you’ll find something – a lot of grappling and a lot of holding. I’m sure if you look long enough you’ll find something. Do I think it’s the right decision? No.
“Frustration. Where’s the consistency? As a fan you don’t want to celebrate a goal and then wait eight minutes and it’s taken off you.
“Corners are physical. The Premier League is physical. That’s why everyone loves it. You have to expect contact at corners. If you give that you have to give all the holding calls in the world and that’s not the way people want the game to go down.
“I don’t want to sound bitter but last week we had one with Tomas Soucek held at Brentford and we didn’t get a penalty. But then you can’t give one like that today.”
