Arsenal v West Ham disallowed goal: Referee made right decision
BBC • • sports
Key Points:
- Referees' chief Howard Webb announced a consultation at season's end to address excessive grappling in the penalty area following a controversial VAR decision in the Arsenal vs. West Ham match.
- West Ham's late equaliser by Callum Wilson was disallowed after VAR ruled that Pablo fouled Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya by holding his arm, preventing him from making a save.
- Webb defended the decision, emphasizing that any interference with a goalkeeper's arms or hands that impedes their ability to play the ball must be penalised.
- The VAR team reviewed multiple potential fouls but concluded the most significant contact was the foul on the goalkeeper, leading to the final decision to award a free-kick to Arsenal.
- The incident sparked debate, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praising the VAR official's courage, while West Ham's Nuno Espirito Santo criticized inconsistency in refereeing decisions.