Erik ten Hag slams VAR after Premier League release statement on West Ham penalty decision

Erik ten Hag slammed VAR after the Premier League released a statement about West Ham’s penalty against Manchester United.

Manchester United fell to a 2-1 defeat against West Ham United as Erik ten Hag‘s men continue to struggle in the Premier League.

The tie started with United creating multiple big chances in the opening 45 minutes, but Rasmus Højlund, Bruno Fernandes, and Diogo Dalot failed to take them.

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West Ham punished the visitors’ lack of finishing through Crysencio Summerville, who opened the scoring for the home side. However, Casemiro was able to claw one back for the Reds with 10 minutes to play.

Then, just as the game crept into overtime, VAR deemed that Matthijs de Ligt had fouled Danny Ings in United’s area. The referee gave a penalty after reviewing the footage on the screen, although the decision has caused outrage. Many claim that VAR should not have been involved as there was no “clear and obvious” error.

Jarrad Bowen then dispatched the penalty to André Onana’s left, and despite late pressure from the Reds, West Ham held out and secured all three points, sending United to 14th in the league table.

Ten Hag slams VAR

Speaking to the BBC, Ten Hag slammed VAR and the officials, explaining that its the third time this season his side have felt injustice in relation to officiating calls.

“Three times this season we feel injustice,” the Dutch boss explained. “We have to score, we created so many chances. We should’ve been two or three up.

‘Second half, we were forcing it, but we allowed them into the game. When you are losing 1-0 you need big personality and character of the team and showed resilience to get back into it. Unfair and unjust the way we conceded the penalty.”

More specifically on the penalty, Ten Hag said: “It was so difficult to see. Before the season there was the instruction about VAR only interfering in clear and obvious mistakes. That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the on field referee.

“More frustrations but I can do nothing with that. They don’t collect points and that’s what we have to do. We have to look in the mirror, we don’t score in a good game from our side. Create loads of chances and concede none but when you lose in this way it’s a bad feeling.”

Premier League statement

The Premier League released an official note explaining why VAR chose to intervene during the fiasco surrounding the penalty.

“The referee did not award a penalty to West Ham for a challenge by de Ligt on Ings,” the official Premier League Match Centre explained.

“The VAR deemed there was sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned his original decision and awarded a penalty.

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