BT Sport pundit reacts as West Ham United denied penalty v FCSB in latest referee issue
Clive Allen felt that West Ham were denied an early penalty for a foul on Gianluca Scamacca in the Europa Conference League game with FCSB.
In the first match after refereeing decisions robbed the Hammers of a Premier League point at Chelsea, the decisions again didn’t go for them in Europe as they ended up going 1-0 behind to Andrei Cordea.
Vladimir Coufal put in a cross from the right hand side 10 minutes it which cleared everyone because the Irons’ striker had gone down after a coming together with Joyskim Dawa, but the referee Benoit Bastien wasn’t interested.
Speaking live on the BT Sport match commentary (8 September, 8.10pm), Allen felt it should have been a penalty, saying: “He’s having a look at referee Benoit Bastien and saying he might well have been pushed to the floor.
“You can see there’s contact where Scamacca is actually nowhere near the cross. I think that’s a foul, I think it’s a push.”
Peter Drury then added in light of recent controversies: “Pertinent moment to remind you that at this stage of the competition there is no VAR.”
Typical
In a match played in pouring rain and a strangely subdued atmosphere in the stands with fans processing the death of the Queen earlier in the afternoon, it was a pretty miserable opening half.
Considering how the video assistant helped ruin the day for West Ham at Stamford Bridge at the weekend (3 September) David Moyes and plenty of supporters would probably have been quite happy to get rid of it forever.
In light of how the club’s luck has largely gone so far this season it is therefore fitting that in their next match they are playing in one of the few situations where it isn’t present, and it may have actually helped if it were.
Allen and Drury had just been discussing how strict a disciplinarian the referee is based on his record, before he of course immediately displayed some leniency in favour of the visitors.
Scamacca should have made amends before half-time but had a pretty awful first 45 in front of goal, when his first involvement could have given his side the perfect opportunity to take the lead.
It will need to be better after half time to get a result from a losing position, and Moyes will need to get his players to perform much closer to their ability while hoping he gets a decision from the officials at some point.