Mike Dean reacts to James Ward-Prowse handball incident as West Ham United beat Luton Town on transfer deadline day
Mike Dean agreed with the decision not to award Luton Town a late penalty against West Ham for handball by James Ward-Prowse.
The ex-Premier League referee said live on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday on 2 September that he’d have been “surprised” if it was given but admitted it was “handball” so if the kick was awarded the VAR wouldn’t have reversed a “wrong decision”.
The Hammers won 2-1 at Kenilworth Road on deadline day with goals from Jarrod Bowen and Kurt Zouma, and held on despite Mads Andersen pulling one back and a late corner skimming off Ward-Prowse’s arm in the box after a deflection in the air.
Dean said when asked if it should have been a spot kick: “I don’t think so. Ward-Prowse has just jumped for the ball and kind of turned away. His hand’s up there, it took a bit of a deflection and it’s caught his arm.
“But I don’t think it’s a penalty kick, me. His arm’s there but I don’t think it’s a pen. I’d have been surprised if it’d been given.
“If it had been given on the pitch it would have stayed with the decision. Not given, quite happy to go ‘check complete’ and move on…
“I think he sees it last minute, he’s looking away… Even the manager didn’t see it so that’s how tough a decision it was for the ref…
“If it’s given on-pitch for handball it’s not a wrong decision, because it’s handball… but because it’s not given it’s not a wrong decision.”
Grey area
West Ham were largely good enough for the win so it would have been a disappointment to come away with just a point.
It was the sort of shout that any team would want to go their way but would equally be frustrated to see go against them.
Dean, who has caused himself trouble explaining decisions of his own recently [Sky Sports], doesn’t make it very clear when he says it was handball but not wrong to ignore it, but it shows how judgment calls will always be a source of argument despite video assistants.
The Irons come away from the game having recorded 10 points from a possible 12 to go into the weekend top of the Premier League.
It has been a very strong start to the season after losing talisman Declan Rice during the summer, and although the Hammers weren’t able to sign a late striker to end the window the business that has been secured looks strong.
Attention now turns back full-time to the actual football which has, so far, been very impressive from David Moyes’ side.
In other West Ham news, a new signing has been given assurances by Tim Steidten over another star player’s situation.