Dermot Gallagher delivers ‘dilemma’ verdict on James Ward-Prowse handball incident in West Ham v Luton
West Ham held on to defeat Luton Town 2-1 on Friday 1 September, despite a late penalty claim that “could have gone either way,” according to Dermot Gallagher.
After leading 2-0 courtesy of headers from Jarrod Bowen and Kurt Zouma, the Hammers saw the lead cut in half during stoppage time when Mads Andersen got one back for the hosts.
Moments later, the Hatters could have been awarded a penalty as the ball appeared to strike the arm of James Ward-Prowse inside the box, and Gallagher believes the home support certainly had a case for it to be given.
“This is one that just shows how handball (law) is at the moment, it can go either way and the reason I say that is I sat with another former Premier League referee yesterday, he said no, and I said yes,” Gallagher told Ref Watch on Sky Sports News (4 September, 11:51 am).
“I worked on the basis that it’s come a long way, he’s seen it, it’s struck his arm, his arm’s up at shoulder height. His argument is it’s come over the defender’s head, he’s looking away and I think that’s the dilemma you’ve got, that in that situation you’re really reliant on the referee to give it.”
Inconsistent
David Moyes’ side will perhaps be watching the highlights back from Friday’s game and considering themselves lucky that they got away with one late on. However, just as Gallagher pointed out, it is also a decision that just as equally was right not to be given. If anything, all this does is underline the confusion that surrounds the handball rule.
While it certainly looks contentious and is one that many would have seen awarded, it is also one that on many occasions hasn’t been given, pointing out the inconsistencies in the league. On this occasion, Moyes was the beneficiary.
And while many Luton Town fans will likely feel hard done by, that same inconsistency just means that they will have a similar decision likely go their way later in the season.
Something certainly needs to be done in order to avoid debates like this coming up in the future and distracting from players’ performances on the pitch.
In other West Ham news, a BBC pundit was impressed by one player’s performance during the match.