West Ham United involved in three VAR controversies as independent panel assesses Premier League issues
According to ESPN, West Ham have been tangled up in three VAR controversies this season with two going in the Hammers’ favour.
West Ham have not enjoyed the first half of the Premier League season. The Hammers sit 16th just one point above the drop, and David Moyes is under huge pressure to turn things around.
It’s easy to sit back and suggest West Ham have been unlucky this season, but a glance at VAR controversies suggests the Irons have actually been favoured more often than not.
As per ESPN, two of the goals during the 3-1 win against Fulham should have been disallowed due to handball.
The report does suggest that West Ham have been negatively affected by VAR though, with Maxwel Cornet’s last-minute goal against Chelsea wrongfully disallowed.
No excuses
Even if Cornet’s goal had stood against Chelsea, West Ham would only be one point better off and still in the mix for relegation.
VAR isn’t the reason for the club’s current predicament, consistently underperforming is. It’s too simplistic to put it down to just Moyes or the players – everyone has to improve in the second half of the season.
The squad has shown in the Europa Conference League that they can play brilliant football when it clicks, but that’s yet to happen in the league just yet.
But West Ham’s dressing room is full of talent and experience and hopefully a strong return to the league can help the club escape the relegation dogfight before it gets scrappy.
Momentum in the Premier League would then allow West Ham to focus on their European campaign without having to worry about the threat of relegation. It’d also inject some confidence in the squad to kick on and challenge for silverware in the Europa Conference League. There’s plenty on the line.