Dermot Gallagher shares ‘conundrum’ verdict after double West Ham United controversy v Sheffield United
West Ham should have had a penalty against Sheffield United for a foul on Jarrod Bowen, according to Dermot Gallagher.
The former Premier League referee believes the Hammers ace was fouled late on in the Premier League clash on Sunday (21 January).
Gallagher also weighed in on the red card shown to defender Vladimir Coufal, with the match finishing 2-2 at Bramall Lane.
“I think it’s a penalty and I thought it was when I first saw it,” said Gallagher, as per Sky Sports (22 January). “The clue for me is the defender is looking away from the ball. The ball comes over his head and he drags Bowen down.
“But the referee gave a handball against Bowen, with his argument being that he thinks Bowen has got hold of the defender first and that’s why his arm is in that position. VAR thought it was a handball, that’s their judgement.”
And discussing Coufal’s red card, Gallagher said: “The conundrum is he gets a yellow card for protesting about the original tackle and while I can’t condone him dissenting against the referee, I can understand that he’s upset.
“Unfortunately, a few minutes later, that yellow card becomes very important because the tackle then has a direct impact on the first one and he gets sent off.”
Drama
The encounter in Sheffield was undoubtedly one of the most dramatic that the Premier League has seen this season.
Maxwel Cornet put the visitors ahead just before the half-hour mark, only for Ben Brereton Diaz to level for the hosts just before the half-time whistle.
James Ward-Prowse then thought he won it for the Hammers with a penalty towards the end of the match, with his beliefs heightened when Rhian Brewster saw red for a wild lunge on Emerson.
West Ham defender Coufal was booked in the scuffle that followed that foul, before being shown a second yellow shortly after for a mistimed tackle on James McAtee.
And Oli McBurnie then snatched a point for the home side, driving home a penalty in the dying seconds at Bramall Lane.
But Hammers star Bowen felt he should have also had a penalty, with the referee penalising the attacker for a handball, as opposed to punishing Blades defender Anel Ahmedhodzic for a foul.
In other West Ham news, clubs are queuing up to sign a Hammers international on loan after his recent appearance in the FA Cup.
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