West Ham are set to lodge an official complaint with the Professional Game Match Official Limited (PGMOL) after their late goal against Arsenal was disallowed on Sunday.
There was incredible drama at the London Stadium as it appeared Callum Wilson had scored an injury time equaliser for the Hammers after Leandro Trossard had opened the scoring for Arsenal.
The goal would have been huge at both ends of the table as Arsenal are fighting for the title and West Ham are battling to avoid relegation.
However, the strike from the England international was looked into by VAR as there was a clash between a number of players in the box before the ball dropped to Wilson.
After review, it was decided that West Ham’s Pablo had impeded Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya by holding his arm.
It did seem quite clear that had happened and Raya had been fouled, but there was a lot going on, with possible fouls from Arsenal players on opponents as well.
West Ham have been left frustrated by the situation and The Times reports that they will lodge a complaint with PGMOL as a result.
The BBC report that the Hammers plan to ‘to raise concerns and request further explanation’ after the incident.
West Ham’s correspondence is unlikely to get them very far, with the decision made and the Premier League Match Centre already confirming why the call was made.
A statement posted on X read: ‘After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to West Ham United.
‘Referee announcement: “After review, West Ham number 19 commits a foul on the goalkeeper. Final decision is direct free kick.”’
Former Premier League referee Peter Walton told The Times: ‘VAR reached the correct outcome in calling a foul on David Raya.
‘In real time all that Chris Kavanagh, the referee, can see is a mêlée of players challenging for the ball. The incident occurred in a crowded penalty area with bodies everywhere and very little time for the on-field official to process exactly what had happened.
‘The foul occurs when West Ham United’s Pablo puts his left arm across Raya’s arm and shoulder area. That contact restricts Raya’s movement and hampers his ability to challenge properly for the ball, resulting in him being unable to make clean contact.
‘Darren England, who was on VAR duty, deserves credit for having both the courage and the understanding to intervene. Equally, Kavanagh deserves credit for being willing to go to the monitor and overturn his original call.’
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen felt that the decision was inconsistent with others as many other fouls at corners go unpunished, while other similar offences don’t.
‘Goalkeepers are protected more than outfield players – there’s lots of holding and grappling that goes on in the box,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘Are you going to look at those every time and give a penalty? Because that’s the only way that is the right way to do it.
‘I get that you can’t wipe a goalkeeper out and there’s arms there but the keeper’s come out to try and grab the ball so he’s got to be seen – not as an outfield player – but he’s got to expect some contact. It’s a corner kick, it’s physical, it’s the Premier League – there’s going to be contact and tussles.
‘We feel more hard done by but we had one at Brentford last week where [Tomas] Soucek got dragged down and we didn’t get a penalty. I’m saying at the consistency level – VAR is here to stay we know that – but I just think the decisions…People are going to say I sound bitter but I’m just being honest. If you look at some of the decisions for long enough you’ll find something to give and that’s what happened in the end.’