A lot of noise came after the Sunday’s game between West Ham and Arsenal. Although both clubs had different goals this season, the goal was the same – three points. The Hammers needed it for Premier League survival and Arsenal needed it for the title. But one decision in injury time influenced the final score and the debate over it will last for days.
West Ham scored an equalizer through Calum Wilson deep into stoppage time, but it was voided after a lengthy VAR review after their player fouled Arsenal’s keeper David Raya. And now, according to The Times, the Hammers will lodge a formal complaint with the PGMOL over the disallowed goal that has pushed them closer to relegation and helped swing the title race in favor of Arsenal.
Toothless, yes, but who cares! Incredible Raya and Trossard push Arsenal to the brink of gloryGiven the importance this match had on both ends of the Premier League table, this might be among the most important VAR decisions ever made in England, and Nuno Espirito Santo was not happy after the game.
All of us don’t understand what is a foul, what isn’t a foul. I think even referees confuse themselves. Because then you look at every corner in the Premier League, what’s happening? What is the barrier, what is the frontier of what is a foul and what is not a foul? I’m talking about the lack of consistency. I think everybody’s confused. So I think it’s up to the referees to dictate what is a foul, what is allowed, what is not allowed. Because it seems like the rules have changed. And everybody feels confused and frustrated. The players don’t understand it, said the Portuguese after the game.
That decision, it’s just so wrong on so many levels. What really makes me angry is that Arsenal would never be top of the league if that’s a free kick. That’s how they’ve scored so many goals by blocking people, holding people, doing all kind of things, and then we get to this point… it takes VAR five minutes. Darren England, the VAR official, it takes him five minutes. He starts the replay over and over again. That in itself puts so much doubt into that decision. It cannot be a free kick, it cannot” said Peter Schmeichel on Viaplay
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