Mark Clattenburg and Ally McCoist react to controversy in West Ham United v Arsenal
Mark Clattenburg has attempted to explain the VAR decision which saw the opening goal in the West Ham win against Arsenal given amid controversial circumstances.
The former Premier League referee explained that due to the on-field decision being given as a goal, VAR would have had to provide concrete evidence that the ball had gone out – something they could not do with the camera angles available to them.
It was unclear whether the ball had gone out of play before Jarrod Bowen set it across for Thomas Soucek to tap in, but that uncertainty may have worked in the Hammers’ favour as VAR could not overrule the decision.
Speaking live on Prime Video [28 December, 20:30], Clattenburg explained: “What we’ve got to remember is the on-field decision is a goal, the assistant referee doesn’t flag that the ball is out of play, so they’ve got to find clear evidence that this ball is out.
“From what I’m seeing from all the replays that the VAR is looking at at the moment, this ball doesn’t look fully out, so therefore I wouldn’t be surprised if they give the goal.”
McCoist then responded: “I think Mark makes a fair point, but I’d maybe like to see the decision tonight. It’s impossible. Jarrod Bowen’s right thigh is posing the problem here. It looks in.”
Another issue with VAR
While it may have worked in the Hammers’ favour this time around, the incident at The Emirates has raised yet another concern over whether VAR is fit for purpose in these types of high-importance situations where every goal is huge in the landscape of both clubs’ seasons.
Perhaps with the call as tight as it was, the ultimate decision to stick with the on-field decision of goal would be the best course to take, but spending over three minutes checking the goal just to side with the referee feels like a huge waste of time when it can’t be proved either way.
Particularly for those in the ground, the wait to see whether VAR would disallow the goal would have been excruciating with no clarity on what they were looking at or whether it would be given as fans in attendance still do not have the benefit of seeing the replays.
Questions will be asked again, and although the decision is likely the correct one, there will be no shortage of controversy surrounding the call, particularly given Mikel Arteta’s previous outbursts.
In other West Ham news, one player failed a late fitness test before the clash.