Dermot Gallagher reacts to controversy in West Ham United defeat vs Nottingham Forest
Former FIFA referee Dermot Gallagher has admitted that he didn’t believe Michail Antonio fouled Orel Mangala during West Ham against Nottingham Forest.
The Hammers had a goal disallowed on the stroke of half-time when Antonio and Mangala collided before Declan Rice played a pass into Said Benrahma, who slotted the ball past Dean Henderson.
A VAR review saw the referee’s initial decision changed, before Forest went up the other end and scored the winner moments later. But former referee Gallagher told Sky Sports that he didn’t feel it was a foul when he first saw it, but understands why it was given.
“I watched this and didn’t think it was a foul, and I’ve seen it again, and I can see why they’ve given it because he absolutely pole-axes him,” he said.
“He changes direction and leads with his arms. Mangala has no chance of getting out of the way, and he absolutely does run into him.
Gallagher also reacted to the decision to only give Scott McKenna a yellow card for his deliberate handball that led to Declan Rice missing a penalty, but said that it was the right decision.
“This is what VAR is all about here, the ref doesn’t see it, but he clearly handballs it. But the goalkeeper is also diving for the ball.
“I thought the VAR was very good, because it directed the referee to the handball, but it also said the goalkeeper is diving behind. So it isn’t necessarily the denial of a goal.
“I think that was a perfect scenario of what the VAR is for. if the goalkeeper hadn’t been there, it would have been a red card.”
Rubbish
The handball decision was lenient but understandable, but the decision to give a foul on Antonio before Benrahma’s goal was just a disgrace, something Trevor Sinclair believed too.
Antonio was running into the box and both players simply collide with each other as they head in opposite directions, there’s nothing more to it.
Disallowing a goal, when the collision had zero impact on the play is completely bizarre and in this instance it’s cost the club three points with the referee likely to just carry on as if nothing happened.
West Ham haven’t had the greatest of seasons so far with two defeats in two games to Man City and Nottingham Forest, but decisions like that are just simply not going to help matters.
Now the team must regroup and look to get a win against Viborg in midweek to be able to build some momentum ahead of the next fixture against Brighton on Sunday afternoon.