What referee personally told Tomas Soucek at full-time after West Ham vs QPR controversy

Tomas Soucek and West Ham United felt hugely aggrieved at the awarding of QPR's penalty.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side were behind after 18 minutes on Friday night, as Nicolas Madsen gave QPR the lead.

He did so via the penalty spot, after referee Ruebyn Ricardo judged that Soucek had fouled Paul Smyth inside the box.

The Hammers eventually found the equaliser on 70 minutes through Jarrod Bowen, before the Irons talisman had the chance to win it in added time.

Bowen was denied from the spot by Pierce Charles, and thus the game ended in a hugely frustrating 1-1 draw for West Ham.

Frustration levels from an Irons perspective will only ramp up further upon hearing what the referee has told Soucek after the full-time whistle.

What has Tomas Soucek said about QPR referee Ruebyn Ricardo?

It's now three games without a win in all competitions for West Ham dating back to the 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Fulham.

The Hammers must be feeling as though their luck isn't in at the moment, with Dockers derby frustration followed up by this incident against QPR.

Replays clearly show that Soucek not only got to the ball ahead of the QPR player, but that contact with the ball was made outside the box.

Speaking in a Sky Sports interview post-match, the Irons midfielder revealed what the referee admitted to him after the game.

"After the game [Ricardo] told me he was wrong, but in the game he just didn't want to speak with me anymore," Soucek said.

Friday night wasn't the first time West Ham have been refereed by Ricardo this season.

Which West Ham game did Ricardo referee earlier this season?

Leicestershire-born, Ricardo began his refereeing journey back in 2013 after his PE teacher suggested he take charge of some school football games.

Fast-forward to April 2023, and he became the youngest Black referee to be in the middle for an EFL fixture aged 25.

He also became the first referee of Black heritage to have the whistle for an FA Vase final in May 2025.

Ricardo isn't a stranger to West Ham either, as he was in charge for the Irons' 4-1 Carabao Cup win over Southampton on 25 August this year.

Unfortunately, there probably won't be too many West Ham fans desperate to see him refereeing another one of their games any time soon.