Nuno Espirito Santo expressed his frustration after West Ham United saw a goal ruled out against Arsenal by VAR.
Deep in the dying embers of what proved to be a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, a late Callum Wilson goal was disallowed by VAR after Pablo Felipe was judged to have fouled Gunners goalkeeper David Raya.
A devastating finale, but who was your West Ham MOTM? 😪
Whether or not it was the correct call is almost irrelevant. No one quite knows what a foul is, it seems. Quite why Declan Rice wasn’t looked at for grappling with Dinos Mavropanos is up for debate.
Nuno criticises Premier League referees after Arsenal defeat
Nuno was asked about the decision – which could both win Arsenal the Premier League title while relegating West Ham – after the game.
He said: “The way the game finished – we’re all upset of course.
“I didn’t pay attention to the replay just to not get more upset but there’s a referee, there’s VAR, there’s circumstances in the past that would be judged different. Let’s not say much further than that.
“Due to the recent seasons it’s been happening and even the referees don’t know what is a foul, what isn’t a foul. It creates a lot of doubt and speculation around it.”
Clearly, relegation doesn’t beckon just because of that would-be goal being ruled out. Two or three years of total mismanagement have taken the club to this point more than anything else.
However, it’s hard not to have some sympathy with what Nuno is saying here.
Give us your response to Callum Wilson’s VAR heartbreak? 😫
The right call? Or harsh on Pablo?
People want consistency and that was profoundly lacking on Sunday – as well as across the Premier League all season.
It would be foolish to suggest his decision alone is what has cost West Ham. However, the fan frustration is warranted, and emotions are indeed running high.
Perhaps the only solace is that if West Ham are indeed relegated, there will be no VAR in the Championship next season.
Clearly, no one is actively wanting to play in the second tier, but not having VAR and all that goes with it is something of a positive.
The issues at West Ham run far deeper than one decision. Still, it’s easy to see why supporters are so angry after this one went against the Irons.
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