West Ham were awarded a late penalty against Manchester United at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon following a VAR check, despite players’ protests
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has said he is “amazed” West Ham were awarded their late penalty against Manchester United.
On-field referee David Coote didn’t penalise Matthijs de Ligt after the defender challenged Danny Ings in the final minute at the London Stadium. However, after being encouraged to look at the incident on a pitchside monitor, Coote pointed to the spot.
“The referee did not award a penalty to West Ham for a challenge by de Ligt on Ings,” a Premier League statement on the incident read. “The VAR deemed there was sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned his original decision and awarded a penalty.”
United defender De Ligt complained to Coote, appearing to suggest Ings should have been penalised for handball. His complaints were ignored, though, and Jarrod Bowen put away the penalty to give West Ham a 2-1 victory.
Halsey, who spent more than a decade as a Premier League referee before retiring in 2013, remained baffled. “I am amazed referee David Coote overturned his decision — a penalty should not have been awarded,” the 63-year-old wrote in The Sun.
“It was nothing more than a coming together and resulted in a game-changing decision that cost Manchester United. Danny Ings lost the ball and then Matthijs de Ligt made minimal contact with the West Ham striker’s shin.”
Halsey accused VAR – administered on this occasion by Michael Oliver – of re-refereeing the incident, something referees chief Howard Webb has sought to avoid. “Something is not right with the training and education at the PGMOL,” he claimed.
Do you agree with Mark Halsey? Have your say in the comments section
United manager Erik ten Hag made his own feelings on the penalty incident very clear. “Before the season, we got clear instructions [about] how they run the process and it was that they only interfere, the VAR, when it’s clear and obvious,” he said.
“This was not clear and obvious so the VAR should stay away from this, but then also the on-field referee took three minutes. It’s clear and obvious that, when you have to consider it that long, and when it has such an impact on the game, you should stay away from the penalty.
“The referee should take responsibility also,” Ten Hag added. “That’s the third time we really feel injustice and that is clear. With the Bruno [Fernandes red card against Tottenham] they should have interfered. It was overturned, the red card, but what you can’t overturn is the score and the result.”
United had looked to have secured a point before the late drama, with Casemiro cancelling out Crysencio Summerville’s opener, only for Bowen’s spot-kick to prove decisive. The defeat leaves Ten Hag’s team down in 14th, behind Sunday’s opponents on goals scored.
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