Premier League provide clarification for Manchester United penalty controversy in West Ham defeat

The Premier League have provided clarification for the penalty controversy in Manchester United’s defeat against West Ham.

Erik ten Hag’s team squandered numerous clear-cut opportunities against West Ham, with Diogo Dalot’s open goal miss standing out as the most glaring.

Unable to cope with West Ham’s second-half pressure, United eventually conceded a goal late in the second half.

Casemiro levelled the score with a well-taken header, but the hosts secured the win from a spot-kick after a controversial penalty decision by Michael Oliver on VAR.

Matthijs de Ligt and Danny Ings collided in the United box but replays made it seem that the Dutchman made contact with the ball with his knee before contact was made with the West Ham forward.

However, despite referee David Coote playing on, he was told to watch the replays of the incident by Michael Oliver, who was manning VAR for the game.

You would have assumed that the penalty would not be given, not just because De Ligt made contact with the ball but that the officials are looking to limit VAR interventions to “clear and obvious” errors.

On X after the incident, the Premier League Match Centre wrote an explanation for the penalty call which many will not agree with.

“The referee did not award a penalty to West Ham for a challenge by de Ligt on Ings. 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,” they said.

Erik ten Hag admitted that he felt ‘injustice’ by the decision which leaves his side 14th in the Premier League.

 “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,” he told the BBC.

“I spoke with [the officials]. But the decision is made. There’s no way back and that’s football.

“That’s a third time I have felt injustice in the season and it has a big impact on our team and on our scores and where we are in the table. It’s not right.”

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