Arabic version: قرار VAR بشأن هدف وست هام يثير الجدل في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز

The disallowed goal by West Ham during their match against Arsenal has been confirmed as the correct call by referees’ chief Howard Webb. The incident occurred in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Callum Wilson thought he had equalized for West Ham, only for the video assistant referee (VAR) to intervene due to a foul on Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya.

According to BBC News, Webb stated that the foul on Raya was clear and necessary to penalize. He explained that if a goalkeeper is impeded by an opponent grabbing or holding their arms, it restricts their ability to perform their role effectively. Webb emphasized that this specific type of contact must be addressed to maintain fairness in the game.

Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, praised the VAR official for showing “a lot of courage” in making the decision, whereas West Ham’s manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, criticized the “lack of consistency” in refereeing. Webb acknowledged that grappling and holding have become significant issues in the Premier League this season.

At the end of the season, discussions will take place regarding how to better police such actions in the penalty area. Webb noted that the league has seen an increase in penalties for holding violations compared to the previous year, but admitted that some infringements have been missed. He reiterated the importance of consulting clubs and stakeholders to ensure the officiating aligns with the expectations of the game.