Karren Brady hits out over ‘enormous’ West Ham controversy, could be ‘financial devastation’
Karren Brady has hit out over the “enormous” ramifications West Ham United could face following last weekend’s VAR controversy against Arsenal.
Callum Wilson thought he had rescued the Irons a last-gasp point in Sunday’s clash with Premier League leaders Arsenal at the London Stadium.
However, Pablo was deemed to have prevented David Raya from getting to the initial cross into the box as he put his arm across the goalkeeper’s throat.
Referee Chris Kavanagh was sent to the pitchside monitor and overruled the goal, meaning West Ham lost 1-0.
Debate rumbles on nearly a week on from the incident, with former West Ham vice-chair Brady having her say on the matter.
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Karren Brady clearly not a fan of VAR
Nuno Espirito Santo‘s men find themselves in the relegation zone with two games to go. The picture would have been a lot different had Wilson’s goal stood, though.
Richard Keys is among those to call on changes to VAR following the Arsenal game, with West Ham fans undoubtedly in agreement.
The re-refereeing of games has long been a frustration for supporters, not least when your side has a last-gasp goal chalked off.
Brady therefore spoke for many in her latest column for The Sun. Rather than calling out the decision itself, Brady aired her frustration at the way VAR is slowly killing football.
“Beautiful, imperfect, glorious chaos. Instead, football now treats these moments like a crime scene investigation,” she said of Wilson’s ‘goal’.
“And the ramifications could be enormous. Relegation is not simply sporting disappointment any more. It is financial devastation. It is hundreds of millions lost. It is players sold, ambitions scaled back, years of rebuilding.
“One VAR call can now alter the entire trajectory of a football club. That is not healthy for the sport. The debate over VAR has raged for years, but what happened at the London Stadium last weekend cut right to the heart of the issue.
“Arsenal are chasing a first title in more than two decades. West Ham are fighting for survival. In stoppage time, one decision potentially changed both stories. Yet the more you watched it, the less certain it became.”
Brady is certainly not alone with these views. And as she says, the ramifications could be truly massive for West Ham.
West Ham can use Arsenal incident to their advantage
Only time will tell just how big a point that would have been against Arsenal last weekend.
Nuno’s men are surely now in must-win territory when they travel to Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
There is serious frustration among the West Ham fanbase right now, but the players can use what happened six days ago to their advantage.
A siege mentality of sorts could benefit the Hammers. Nuno will lean into that and hopefully see a fired-up performance at St James’ Park.
Let’s just hope that once the dust settles, the Irons are not left to wonder what might have been.