West Ham United: Mike Dean reacts instantly to controversial Kurt Zouma moment v Everton
West Ham United were right to have a penalty awarded against them in their 3-1 victory over Everton at Goodison Park, according to Mike Dean.
Former Toffees defender Kurt Zouma was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area shortly before the break and referee Craig Pawson was advised to go and check the screen by the VAR in the clash on Saturday (2 March).
Pawson did, after viewing the video, agree that a penalty was the right decision and pointed to the spot.
Speaking live on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (2 March), former Premier League official Dean said: “His arm’s away from his body, he’s been sent to the screen I guess they’ll have a look at this.
“In my opinion his arm’s away from his body, it’s hit his hand but he’s moved it slightly towards it I think it will be a penalty kick to Everton.”
Beto saw his penalty saved but did later put Everton in front before Zouma levelled the score and Tomas Soucek and Edson Alvarez scored late on to win it for the Hammers.
Was it right to award a penalty against Kurt Zouma in West Ham v Everton?
On first viewing, it did look like it was a handball from Zouma and certainly Pawson wasted little time in awarding the spot-kick once he had been to look at the screen following intervention from the VAR.
Luckily for the French defender, he was bailed out by compatriot Alphonse Areola who got down lown to his left to keep out Beto’s penalty shortly before half-time and ensure the teams went into the break goalless.
West Ham will no doubt have been annoyed but considering the amount of poor decisions they have had go against them this season, this one at least did appear to be the correct call.
Dean was not alone in thinking it was a penalty in the Soccer Saturday studio, either, with Sue Smith also stating that she thought it was a penalty, although perhaps her allegiance as an Everton supporter played a small part in that opinion…
In other West Ham news, a David Moyes contract update emerged before kick-off.
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