West Ham are planning to contact the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), the referees’ organization, after their late equalizer was ruled out against Arsenal.
Callum Wilson’s goal in stoppage time on Sunday appeared to have dealt a devastating blow to the Gunners’ title hopes while improving the Hammers’ chances of surviving in the Premier League.
But after a video assistant referee (VAR) assessment, the goal was disallowed due to a foul by Pablo on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
Following the controversial decision, West Ham will express their concerns and demand clarification from the PGMO.
BBC Sport understands that they will also seek the communication between referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR Darren England.
The Gunners won 1-0, giving them a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and further jeopardizing West Ham’s future. The Hammers are currently in 18th place, with Tottenham Hotspur one point above them before hosting Leeds on Monday.
Former England and Manchester United attacker Wayne Rooney believes VAR performed admirably in denying the goal.
It’s a blatant foul, Rooney remarked on the Wayne Rooney Show.
You’re going to have a lot of people say that it should have stood since it’s contentious, and most likely all of the [Manchester] City players, staff, and supporters will agree that it should have. And then you’re going to have all of the Tottenham supporters, players, and staff claiming it shouldn’t have counted, as well as the Arsenal fans.
But it’s a clear foul. I believe you can clearly see the arm crossing his face, preventing him from reaching the ball. So I believe it is the correct decision.
It’s the one time I genuinely believe VAR did an outstanding job in such a critical game.
Despite being pleased that the proper choice was made, Rooney highlighted the advantage that goalkeepers have within their own area.
I believe that VAR’s and referees’ consistency—which I despise—is that anytime you approach the goalkeeper, it’s a penalty, according to him.
You will be penalized if you approach the goalkeeper. Because of this, I’ve always despised goalkeepers as a player. I believe it is because… They can jump with their arms, which gives them a significant advantage. They normally emerge with their knees and studs down your back.
However, I believe that goalkeepers are consistent in that they always get a free-kick if someone approaches them.
What did other commentators say?
Darren Cann, a former Premier League assistant referee, appeared on Match of the Day. I doubt that anybody would want to switch places with Darren England. Nobody would want to be sitting in that chair. He stepped up to the plate, made the right choice, and it was the greatest VAR decision in Premier League history.
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given on Match of the Day: The thing that irritates me is that we have seen on several occasions with Arsenal this season, goalkeepers and defenders being blocked off, and the goal stands. Everyone is concerned about the consistency of refereeing judgments. Why was this goal permitted, yet this one was not? So much is at stake at the bottom and top of the league.
The other thing is that Gabriel, Odegaard, and Trossard are all holding before Raya is fouled. When does the referee choose which foul to call rather than the one that occurred previously?
Danny Murphy, former Liverpool midfielder, on Match of the Day: The fury and dissatisfaction over West Ham not being granted the goal stems from the fact that it was against Arsenal. They cannot be held accountable for previous choices.
The VAR officials must speak their minds, and it is clearly a foul. Just because it’s Arsenal, we shouldn’t distort it.
Former West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green on BBC Radio 5 Live: It is a foul. You’re looking at two players fouling the goalkeeper. This season, there have been so many of these, making it a highly debated issue. There has been so much variation with it that for it to come down to this is enormous.
It just feels like VAR, West Ham, and Arsenal, particularly with their set-pieces, have been the topic of the season.
In isolation, it is foul. There were five or six fouls occurring at the same time in there, but the ball landed in the right place. Then you consider consistency: none.
