West Ham to complain over disallowed goal that damaged relegation fight

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West Ham are set to lodge an official complaint with Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) over the controversial decision to disallow Callum Wilson’s goal in their crucial match against Arsenal.

The Hammers saw what would have been an equaliser ruled out after VAR deemed that Pablo Felipe had fouled goalkeeper David Raya. The decision proved costly for West Ham’s relegation battle, as a 1-1 draw would have seen them draw level on points with 17th-placed Tottenham.

Club seeks clarity over VAR call

According to The Guardian, West Ham plan to contact PGMO seeking clarity over why Pablo was penalised for the incident. The club also intends to request the audio exchanges between referee Chris Kavanagh and video assistant referee Darren England, who advised Kavanagh to review the incident at the pitchside monitor.

While West Ham acknowledge their complaint is unlikely to change the outcome, they remain frustrated by what they perceive as inconsistent officiating in similar situations during set pieces. The club’s concerns centre around the lack of consistency in how such challenges are penalised across different matches.

However, many former referees have backed the officials’ decision, suggesting Kavanagh and England made the correct call in disallowing the goal.

Arteta praises ‘brave’ officials

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended the decision, describing the officials as “very brave” for making such a crucial call. He emphasised the significance of the moment, stating it could determine “the history of two massive clubs that are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives.”

The controversy highlights ongoing issues with consistency in VAR decisions, particularly regarding set-piece incidents. Football’s lawmaking body, the International Football Association Board, is expected to address concerns about grappling at set plays during discussions starting in the autumn.

For West Ham, the disallowed goal represents another setback in their fight to avoid relegation. The club now face an uphill battle to climb out of the bottom three, with every point crucial in their remaining fixtures.

The incident adds to the ongoing debate about VAR’s role in football and the need for clearer guidelines when reviewing contentious decisions that can have such significant consequences for clubs’ seasons.