Michael Oliver, the Premier League official who recommended that David Coote review his decision not to award West Ham a last-ditch penalty against Manchester United on Sunday, has been handed a match for the forthcoming weekend.
The decision, which led to Jarod Bowen’s 96th-minute spot-kick winner, was ultimately the final nail in the coffin for Erik ten Hag, who was sacked less than one day later by United. It came as the final match in a run of eight including just one win.
Speaking afterwards, Ten Hag lamented the use of VAR at the London Stadium. “Clear and obvious wasn’t how the VAR worked their process,” he said, angered.
“Before the season they explained the process of the VAR and said they’d only act if it was clear and obvious. So it should have interfered for Bruno’s red card at Tottenham – that was a wrong decision and this was a wrong decision.
“Both have a big impact on the games. I’m not criticising any person, I’m criticising the process. Of course, there are people running the process and it had a big impact on the score.”
United should have been out of sight from Julen Lopetegui’s side in the first half regardless, spurning countless chances to take a lead and create distance between themselves and their opponents. Opportunities for Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund, just to name two, are just as much to blame for the final result as Oliver and Coote’s overturn.
However, having clawed the game back through Casemiro – who scored to level the match after Crysencio Summerville put the Hammers ahead – a Matthijs de Ligt foul on Danny Ings was eventually given. Coote, the matchday referee, initially waved play on before Oliver suggested he go to the pitchside monitor to review the footage.
After a lengthy check of the collision, Coote pointed to the spot. Oliver has since been heavily criticised for his role. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, said, “I didn’t think it was a penalty. I didn’t think it was a penalty. Look at it, it’s a coming together.
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