Andoni Iraola made a comment on Max Kilman after Bournemouth and West Ham United played out a 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium.
The West Ham defender was deemed to have handled the ball inside the penalty area on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League.
A penalty was awarded to the Cherries, which Marcus Tavernier scored, making the scoreline 2-1.
Much has been made of controversy involving Kilman as to whether or not he deserved to be sent off for that incident.
Andoni Iraola believes Max Kilman should have been sent off
Iraola was expectedly irate at full-time as he watched his side squander a number of quality goalscoring chances.
West Ham survived courtesy of Alphonse Areola, as the France international made a total of 10 saves all game.
According to Sofascore, he prevented 2.49 goals, and it undoubtedly was his best performance of the 2025/26 campaign.
However, instead of giving the keeper his flowers and stating that his players should have been more clinical in front of goal, the Cherries manager decided to talk about Kilman.
Despite receiving a penalty from which his team scored, Iraola wanted the Hammers to be down to ten men.
He said: “I don’t understand the referee decision to not send him off. They told me it is not a denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
“If that is not it, I don’t know what is. I cannot even understand it. It is the clearest chance you can give to a number nine. I was not happy at all with the decision.”
West Ham United avoided double jeopardy vs Bournemouth
Kilman made contact with his hand accidentally as he slid to win the ball, but Evanilson moved it away.
The Hammers defender did not intentionally use his hand and act like a makeshift goalkeeper to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net.
Giving a penalty was the correct call, and if he had been sent off, that would have been double jeopardy.
This is something that the PGMOL have advised referees against doing, and one can understand the merits of it.
Iraola is bitter and has it completely wrong about this.
Yes, referees do need to do better, but this time around, both the on-field referee and the VAR have got it absolutely spot on.
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