West Ham United captain Mark Noble has revealed what Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder said to him after last week’s VAR shocker at Brammall Lane.
West Ham were trailing 1-0 when Declan Rice burst forward in the last minute before setting up Robert Snodgrass for a superb equaliser.
The goal sparked wild celebrations among the players and travelling Hammers faithful.
West Ham’s handball VAR shocker still stings
But the joyous scenes were shortlived.
VAR intervened and ruled Rice had handled the ball in the build-up after it was deflected onto his arm from point-blank range.
The incident has become a watershed moment in football regarding the universally panned new handball rules.
A bitter rivalry has grown between Sheffield United and the Hammers since the Carlos Tevez saga.
But much-lauded Blades boss Wilder showed his true class after the game.
Classy Wilder rises above the rivalry
Noble revealed in his column in The Evening Standard what the manager said to him in the tunnel.
“At Sheffield United, as I walked down the tunnel, I saw their manager Chris Wilder,” Noble said in The Evening Standard.
“He should have been buzzing.
“But he said: “Sorry, Mark.” We need to dump this rule as soon as possible.”
Honesty should be applauded
Brilliant from Wilder.
There may be no love lost between the supporters of both clubs.
But Wilder is clearly a manager going places and quickly.
His class and honesty deserves praise and credit in a situation where he could easily have rubbed West Ham’s noses in it to curry the favour of his own fans.
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