Mark Halsey reacts to major controversy in West Ham United win v Bournemouth
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey feels both major VAR incidents were handled correctly in West Ham United’s win over Bournemouth.
The Hammers scored on the brink of half-time when Thilo Kehrer was deemed to have accidentally handled the ball before a bit of pinball ended with Kurt Zouma heading home, before they were awarded a late penalty after Jordan Zemura blocked a cross with his arm.
But despite huge controversy and plenty of argument around both decisions, Halsey wrote in his column for The Sun (25 October) that both decisions were correct and Bournemouth could have “no complaints” about the outcome.
“West Ham’s opening goal by Kurt Zouma was correctly awarded by the referee David Coote and then VAR,” he said.
“The ball did hit the arm of Hammers defender Thilo Kehrer in the build-up.
“But he was not the scorer and his action was not deliberate as per Law 12: Handling the ball.
“Kehrer had his eyes closed and his arm was in a natural position tucked in front of his body.
“The play continued and Zouma headed home for a good goal.
“VAR official Mike Dean automatically checked the goal and agreed Kehrer’s action was not deliberate, so Bournemouth can have no complaints.
“Cherries sub Jordan Zemura conceded a late penalty when he made himself bigger and handled Vladimir Coufal’s cross.”
Simple
It’s very simple what’s happened and the amount of debate surrounding the decisions has been very strange.
Nobody is denying that Kehrer handled the ball, even VAR have acknowledged that, but the point is that it wasn’t him that scored and therefore the goal can’t be ruled out.
It’s a stupid rule, granted, but that isn’t West Ham’s fault and the number one rule is to play to the whistle, which everyone did. It would have been a bigger farce if VAR had ruled the goal out, considering how the rule is written.
As for the penalty decision, it’s quite clear he makes his body bigger because if the ball didn’t hit his arm it goes through into the box towards Michail Antonio.
The decisions were pretty straight forward, the issue is that the rule is shocking and needs re-writing because right now it’s nonsense. But that isn’t the fault of West Ham.