West Ham United: BBC Sport journalist rages at ‘awful’ London Stadium controversy
West Ham were involved in a lengthy VAR decision in their meeting Aston Villa, infuriating BBC Sport journalist Phil McNulty.
The Hammers thought they had netted a late winner against Villa on Sunday (17 March) through midfield ace Tomas Soucek.
But a very lengthy VAR check ruled out the goal for handball, with the match ending 1-1 at the London Stadium.
When asked why it took so long for VAR to rule the goal out in a BBC Sport Q&A, McNulty answered: “Please don’t make me get on my soapbox this early. I am pretty much done with VAR in the manner it is used in this country, where there is so much interference in games and we get delays like we had at West Ham.
“Also, as a fan experience, it is awful as no one knows what is going on and we have these interminable delays. Whatever happened to clear and obvious? It almost seems like we are trying to find ways to disallow goals these days and much of the joy is being sucked out of the game for players and, most importantly, fans.
“Until the system is utilised better I would be happy just to see semi-automated offside and goal-line technology.”
West Ham fans rage at VAR decision v Aston Villa
It isn’t just McNulty who is annoyed by the decision at the London Stadium, with the home supporters furious with the outcome from VAR, not least because it took so long.
Hammers manager David Moyes and his players were also angered at the decision from the officials, which denied them a dramatic last-minute winner.
Michail Antonio put the hosts ahead just before the half-hour mark with a superb header, with Nicolo Zaniolo netting for the visitors with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Soucek then put the ball into the back of the net in stoppage time, only for it to be ruled out, with the home side having had another goal ruled for handball shortly after the break, with Antonio the culprit on that occasion.
It was certainly an action-packed clash, with both sides perhaps leaving happy with a point given how they had both played in Europe on Thursday (14 March).
In other West Ham news, journalist Ben Jacobs has issued a transfer stance on one London Stadium-linked attacker.
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