Michael Owen discusses potential penalty for West Ham against Brentford
Michael Owen believes that Tomas Soucek’s presence stopped West Ham from getting a penalty against Brentford.
Speaking on Premier League productions [03/10/2021 3:00pm], the former striker revealed that the Irons probably should have had a penalty when Michail Antonio appeared to be hauled to the floor by Christian Norgaard.
However, Soucek was close to Antonio at the time, and it seems as if the referee decided that he could have been involved in the contact, which was why the Hammers didn’t get the penalty.
Owen said: “If Soucek isn’t there and it’s just a foul in isolation, then I think he gets a penalty there.
“I actually think it probably is a penalty.
“Soucek is right above it when he crosses it; there is a lot going on for the referee to take in.”
Interesting claims.
Given just how strong Antonio is, it really does take a lot for someone to haul him to the floor, but that what was appeared to happen here.
The fact that Soucek was close should have made no difference, and Peter Bankes or the VAR should have had a proper look at the incident as it could have changed the game.
Instead, the Irons equalised and then conceded a last-minute winner as the Bees took all three points back to west London.
This could have been a major turning point in the match, but it wasn’t to be, and the Hammers are sat in ninth place on 11 points heading into the international break.
The 26-year-old Czech midfielder was close to the action, but that shouldn’t make any difference, really, and the Irons should have been awarded a penalty.
In other West Ham news, Moyes reveals why he didn’t bring Vlasic on against Brentford.
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