Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has blamed poor officiating for his side’s 2-1 loss to West Ham. The manager said it feels “unfair and unjust” that his team fell loss due to the controversial late penalty which was converted by Bowen.
Erik ten Hag comments on Poor VAR Call
Erik ten Hag’s side should have won the game from the first half of the game as they missed a host of chances. The loss is the club’s fourth loss in the season. The game was 1-1 before the referee awarded the penalty.
The referee initially waved it off but he was sent to the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR) to review Matthijs de Ligt’s challenge on Danny Ings. Referee Coote then pointed to the spot after a lengthy stoppage and ignored protests from United’s players over a handball by Ings before Bowen slotted home in the second minute of injury time.
Speaking about it, Erik ten Hag said: “Before the season there was the instruction about VAR only interfering in clear and obvious mistakes.” He also said: “That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the on-field referee.”
“I spoke with them,” added Ten Hag. “But the decision is made. There’s no way back and that’s football. “That’s a third time I have felt injustice in the season and it has a big impact on our team and on our scores and where we are in the table. It’s not right.”
As for West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui, he said: “I didn’t see it. The players say it’s a penalty and the referee says it is a penalty, so I am sure they are right.” He also said: “I prefer to highlight that, after they scored, we keep the energy and positive momentum to win the match. I prefer to keep that energy.”
The result moved West Ham up to 13th in the Premier League, one place above Manchester United who have won just three of their opening nine games.
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