Dermot Gallagher shocks Sky Sports studio with verdict on contentious West Ham v Chelsea call
Dermot Gallagher disagrees with the penalty decision in the match between West Ham United and Chelsea.
The Hammers lost 3-0 in the London derby to mark three consecutive losses on home soil under Julen Lopetegui, but were denied a penalty when Wesley Fofana pulled back Crysencio Summerville in the penalty area.
Gallagher reacted to the controversial decision on Sky Sports Ref Watch [23 September, 11:38am] and left presenter Rob Wotton visibly shocked as the former Premier League referee – who usually defends officiating decisions – disagreed with the call.
He said: “I think it’s a penalty. It’s a penalty because he holds him for so long. Look, he holds him, he holds him, he holds him.
“The dilemma for VAR is the referee has the perfect call of it. Is it a massive howler? I think it’s a penalty, so it’s wrong.”
West Ham United should have had a penalty v Chelsea
The decision by referee Sam Barrott to dismiss the penalty claim for West Ham has caused an uproar as yet another refereeing controversy becomes the centre of attention in the Premier League.
With the Hammers trailing to a Nicolas Jackson brace before Cole Palmer completed the rout, had the on-field decision been overturned and the penalty scored, it would have been a much tighter affair at the London Stadium.
Instead, West Ham were comfortably beaten by Chelsea and now sit fourteenth in the Premier League after five matches, with one win and four points.
All hope of challenging for a European finish this season is quickly dissipating and questions are being raised around Lopetegui and whether he was the right man to succeed David Moyes in East London.
It is all well and good to blame the referee for denying the Irons an opportunity to get back into the game, but the fact remains that the hosts never looked like winning against Chelsea and the team who played the best on the day claimed the three points.
Lopetegui has had plenty of time to figure out his strongest West Ham lineup, and if the players he selected on Saturday (21 September), barring injuries, are the preferred players, the situation at the London Stadium is far more bleak than anticipated.
In other West Ham news, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer agree on what’ll happen at West Ham United after Chelsea loss.
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