West Ham Super Fans blast VAR after Balbuena red card v Chelsea
This is part of a regular series from our panel of West Ham Super Fans. Each week, our Super Fans will deliver their verdicts on the biggest talking points and news stories around the London Stadium.
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West Ham are the latest victims of VAR controversy as Fabian Balbuena’s sending off in the 1-0 defeat against Chelsea on Saturday caused uproar.
Balbuena was shown a straight red in the second half after a VAR review on the pitchside monitor by referee Chris Kavanagh.
However, the replays clearly show that Balbuena kicks the ball and Ben Chilwell goes into challenge him and as the Hammers ace follows through, he catches the Chelsea full-back.
David Moyes let rip after the match, claiming it was a “rank rotten” decision [Sky Sports].
Our panel of West Ham Super Fans have also slammed the decision, with one labelling it as “disgraceful”.
Here is what they had to say:
Annette Smith (@Annette46557317)
Tony (@ashfordhammer)
Lena Starr (@LenaWHU)
Teddy Isaacs (@T_dIsaacs)
Andrew Jacob (@AJacob1511)
Stuart Ling (@StuartLing76)
Andrew Bushell (@Andy_Bushy67)
It was very clear that Balbuena should not have been sent off.
Chilwell stuck his leg in as Balbuena was booting the ball – he knew what he was doing.
Balbuena was simply kicking the ball. Is he supposed to instantly stop his leg as soon as his foot touches the ball?
It’s just stupid. We don’t know how to describe how bad a decision that was but it’s clear that Kavanagh didn’t make that decision himself – he saw it in real time.
Every time a referee is told to watch the pitchside monitor by the VAR, you know that a change is going to be made.
Why not just tell them what it was or let them consult the monitor if they wish?
None of the process makes sense. It’s a mess.
In other West Ham news, Frank McAvennie is completely baffled by two transfer decisions at the London Stadium.
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