Ex-FIFA official slams VAR mistake after Fulham v West Ham penalty controversy
Noel Egan claims Fulham should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-1 draw with West Ham at Craven Cottage on Saturday (14 September).
The ex-FIFA official has criticised VAR for failing to intervene after Max Kilman appeared to nudge Adama Traoré in the back with the Fulham forward through on goal.
Tim Robinson decided not to award a penalty with the Hammers rescuing a point courtesy of a last-gasp Danny Ings equaliser.
And Egan – speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone – feels that Kilman got away with one.
“I must confess, when I saw that one I thought it was a foul,” Egan said.
“There is a very high threshold for contact. However, when you have players running at speed the slightest nudge or push can put those players off.
“I thought Traoré was in a position to go through and score and he had contact from behind which put him over. Therefore, If you were to take the West Ham defender out of the picture, there is no indication of Traoré doing anything other than remaining on his feet.
“Kilman isn’t just touching the winger, his arm clearly extends. As a result, if I had been in the VAR room I would have awarded a penalty in this incident.
“VAR got it wrong. I don’t blame the on-field referee because, at the point of contact, he is almost dead in line and would not have been able to see the push.
“However, I would not have been surprised to see a penalty given by VAR. I would have given it, and I don’t think anybody would have complained.”
Max Kilman lucky to avoid a penalty against him in Fulham v West Ham?
Had the penalty been given, Kilman could have had very few complaints. He did appear to nudge Traoré right at the moment the forward looked as if he was going to get his shot away.
Therefore, Julen Lopetegui and his players will likely be feeling a little bit lucky that they got away with that decision.
In the end, it made a huge difference, with Ings able to rescue a point late on. However, Lopetegui won’t want to rely on this kind of fortune in the future.
In other West Ham news, Lopetegui must axe one player at the club who is woefully out of form.
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