West Ham Captain Questions VAR Decision in Crucial Match Against Arsenal
West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen has expressed his frustration with the video assistant referee (VAR) decision that denied his team a crucial point in their match against Arsenal. The incident occurred in stoppage time when Callum Wilson appeared to have equalized for the hosts, only for the goal to be disallowed after a review by VAR Darren England and referee Chris Kavanagh.
The officials ruled that there had been a foul by West Ham’s Pablo on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya as he attempted to grasp an initial delivery into the box. Pablo’s arm was across the neck of Raya, while there also appeared to be a pull on his arm. The lengthy review process led to the goal being disallowed, leaving Bowen and his teammates feeling hard done by.
Bowen acknowledged the reasoning behind the decision but felt the length of the check suggested his team may have been unfairly treated. “We’re on the receiving end of it so we’re going to feel more hard done by,” he told Sky Sports. “Football is a sport that brings enjoyment, brings fans together and gives big moments. We had our big moment then, we thought we’d got back into the game, [but you] look at something for five minutes, [you’re] trying to find something.”
He went on to highlight the challenges faced by goalkeepers in the box, stating that they are often protected more than outfield players. “Goalkeepers are protected more than outfield players – there’s lots of holding and grappling that goes on in the box. 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.”
Bowen also pointed to a previous instance where his team did not receive a penalty, despite a similar situation. “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.”
West Ham remains in the bottom three of the Premier League, with upcoming matches against Newcastle and Leeds. Tottenham, their relegation rivals, are a point ahead and will face Leeds on Monday night.
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