Dermot Gallagher cites ‘key issue’ in West Ham United vs Manchester United penalty controversy
Dermot Gallagher was “convinced” the late West Ham penalty against Manchester United would not be given.
The former Premier League referee spoke on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch on 28 October to give his own view that he thought the spot kick given against Matthijs de Ligt for a challenge on Danny Ings wouldn’t be given, but highlighted the “key issue” that Michael Oliver’s recommendation as the VAR was only that, and didn’t have to see the decision changed.
Jarrod Bowen scored from the spot in the 92nd minute, after David Coote changed his on-field verdict to penalty, to give the Irons a crucial 2-1 victory at the London Stadium on 27 October, leaving the visitors incensed.
Gallagher said: “I’m second-guessing here. I think [Oliver’s] seen the thighs come together, he thinks De Ligt has gone into him. He’s had a quick look, he’s made his judgement, he’s recommended.
“But that’s the key issue, the word ‘recommended’. He’s only recommended he goes and looks at the monitor. I know we all say that if he goes to the monitor there’s a hard and fast thought that it’s going to be changed.
“But that’s because, by definition, I’m sending you to the monitor because I think you’ve made a clear and obvious error, so straight away that will be in the referee’s mind. But don’t forget, he does retain all options.
“He can stick with his on-field decision, and I really did think that he would stick with his on-field decision. Because as we were watching the monitor and I saw what was happening, what was unfolding, the more I saw it the more I was convinced it wasn’t a penalty.”
Julen Lopetegui must take advantage of lucky West Ham win
The decision itself was one that was pretty soft in the first instance, and hardly moved into the realms of a clear and obvious error that needed correcting.
De Ligt does catch Ings without touching the ball, which might have been enough to prevent it being overturned had the on-field decision been penalty, but the ball did also hit the Irons striker on the arm.
It was the sort of call that would never have gone against Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering side but with Erik ten Hag under such pressure at Old Trafford it is much less surprising, such is the way football seems to often find a way to consolidate strength.
The decision has seemingly proven to be the last straw for INEOS as David Ornstein reported on 28 October that the Dutchman has now been sacked.
Oliver may be the Premier League’s top referee but he has shown throughout his career he is no stranger to giving dramatic, late spot kicks for debatable infringements, with the infamous Anthony Knockhaert miss for Leicester before Troy Deeney scored for Watford at the other end in 2013, and the one Cristiano Ronaldo scored to rescue Real Madrid on aggregate in a 3-1 Champions League loss to Juventus in 2019, where he sent off Gianluigi Buffon, perhaps the most prominent.
From a Hammers point of view the important thing was Bowen found the bottom corner, after Mark Noble’s injury-time miss in similar circumstances three years ago, and Julen Lopetegui’s struggling side somehow came away with three points.
The visitors could have been out of sight by half time and the sack pressure on the Spaniard would have shot up, but his half-time changes worked and he got the luck he needed at the end.
Last time it looked like his side had turned a corner, with the excellent 4-1 win over Ipswich on 5 October, they followed it up with a 4-1 collapse at Tottenham (19 October), so this time a vital win must be built on if the new era is to get off the ground.
In other West Ham news, the Irons have held high-level talks over a transfer for a Ballon d’Or nominee.
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