Jamie O’Hara brands VAR at West Ham United vs Southampton a ‘clown’ live on talkSPORT
Jamie O’Hara says the fact that Southampton’s goal against West Ham in the 1-1 draw on Sunday was allowed to stand was a “shocking decision”.
The Hammers had to settle with a draw at St Mary’s on 16 October as Declan Rice’s long-range strike cancelled out Romain Perraud’s opener, where his shot was deflected in from range after Jarrod Bowen had been blocked off the ball by the referee.
The winger was in place to challenge for the ball before Peter Banks got in his way, allowing the Saints player to score a fortunate goal, which left David Moyes aghast after the game, and O’Hara felt the same a day later.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Monday morning 17 October he said: “Kyle Walker-Peters had a throw-in, it was a foul throw by the way as he had his foot on the line, it comes into the box and they try to clear it.
“It is falling to Bowen, who is going to try and clear the ball, and the ref gets in the way of Bowen.
“The Southampton player is able to control it and put it in the bottom corner. The ref allowed it!
“I couldn’t believe what I was watching, a shocking decision. The ref is completely obstructing Bowen from clearing the ball.
“How he allowed that goal to stand I will never know.
“A clown must have been in the VAR booth. If you are looking at that any not seeing the referee was in the way…”
Laura Woods said: “I don’t think he is a clown.”
“I’m sorry, it’s one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen. He’s in the way.”
Yet again
Moyes is understandably tearing his hair out after another game where he feels the Irons should have won but a combination of appalling luck and weird officiating has prevented it.
At the very least they already should have avoided defeat at both Nottingham Forest (14 August) and Chelsea (3 September) this season but didn’t get the benefit of any doubts.
And with their form building well in recent weeks it will once again be infuriating that the momentum has stalled with a distinct flavour on injustice attached.
Gianluca Scamacca was unfortunate not to score one of his many chances, and Tomas Soucek also could have had a penalty on the south coast, so it was a frustrating day all round.
And with suddenly in-form again Liverpool next up it was a particularly unhelpful lead in for a challenging game.
O’Hara is often miles off with his opinions but this one was glaring enough that he is right, but the fact that it was arguably not even the worst decision West Ham have been on the receiving end of in the last two months shows the uphill battle the club have been fighting this year.