talkSPORT pundit suggests ‘financial reasons’ to thank for West Ham United goal v Arsenal
Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested VAR was not in operation for the EFL Cup last-16 tie between West Ham and Arsenal due to “financial reasons”.
The lack of Video Assistant Referee at London Stadium benefited West Ham as Ben White’s early own goal was controversially allowed to stand.
Mikel Arteta suggested after the game that the goal would have been ruled out had VAR been in use due to a foul on Aaron Ramsdale.
Asked by Alan Brazil on talkSPORT Breakfast [2 November, 09:47] why the video technology was not used, Agbonlahor said: “Financial reasons”.
Brazil added that Tomas Soucek “definitely grabbed” Ramsdale’s shirt, with Agbonlahor agreeing a foul would have been given under VAR.
Fortunate
Agbonlahor is technically correct with what he says with regards to financial reasons being the reason behind the lack of VAR.
Due to VAR not being used at many EFL grounds outside of the Premier League, it is deemed unfair to use it for some ties and not others.
That may seem strange reasoning on the face of it, especially when two top-flight sides are facing off such as in this example.
Video assistants will be used from the two-legged semi-finals onwards, regardless of the teams involved.
Even the most ardent of United fans will accept they got away with one against Arsenal, but there can be no disputing they were good value for their 3-1 victory.
The ‘reward’, if you can call it that, is a trip to Liverpool in the next round. Fingers crossed for no controversial decisions in that one.
In other West Ham news, Ian Abrahams dropped an “absolutely lamentable” verdict regarding a development late on Wednesday (1 November).