{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
West Ham United v AZ Alkmaar as BBC pundit rages at incident in Conference League
BBC Radio Five Live pundit Neil Lennon blasted the referee’s decision to show a yellow card to West Ham United’s Thilo Kehrer in the 64th minute of the Europa Conference League semi-final win over AZ Alkmaar.
Ivan Kruzliak from Slovakia was the man in the middle, who decided to book Kehrer for time-wasting as he prepared to take a throw-in.
The yellow card was shown with the scores at 0-0 as the Hammers attempted to build pressure in the final third, as they went on to clinch the win late on through Pablo Fornals.
Lennon slammed the decision to caution Kehrer, as relayed by the BBC Sport live text commentary of the game.
“Absolutely ridiculous decision to book Thilo Kehrer. Come on ref.”
Nothing in it
Subscribe to Football Insider TV now
Lennon had a point, it was little more than a few seconds that the German international hesitated, as he went to take the throw-in.
It was almost as if the referee was waiting for it to happen, knowing that West Ham were protecting a one-goal lead from the first leg.
The second half proved to be a fraught encounter, with both sides showing nervousness with what was on the line. The game stretched, suiting West Ham on the counter-attack, but the hosts were knocking on the door even louder.
In the end, the most important moment came with the only goal of the game from Fornals, deep into injury time.
It appeared that the Hammers were about to see the game through, but the Spaniard made sure and sent the away section into ecstasy as their place in the Prague final was secured.
West Ham United are on course to win their first major trophy since 1980.