Ex-Fifa official: West Ham victims of major injustice as ‘unacceptable’ Jarrod Bowen footage emerges
Maxwel Cornet’s goal as West Ham lost 2-1 to Chelsea on Saturday (3 September) should not have been ruled out, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Edouard Mendy’s reaction to Jarrod Bowen’s challenge in the build-up was “unacceptable”.
Bowen and Mendy challenged for a loose ball in the penalty area that fell to Cornet who thought he had scored a late equaliser.
The Chelsea goalkeeper stayed down after the challenge and after a VAR review, referee Andy Madley overturned his decision and awarded a free-kick to the Blues.
“I think the goalkeeper came out into Bowen’s space to close him down and great credit to Bowen, he jumped over the player,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Was there contact? Was there not contact? For me, that’s not a foul by Bowen and therefore this goal should stand.
“I don’t think he’s left his foot in, he’s jumped over and I doubt there’s contact. For me, that goal should stand.
“I don’t think VAR needed to come in. The referee is in a good position, he’s not seen it as a foul. It’s only VAR coming in and getting involved.
“What we’ve got is an overindulgent panel of VAR operators who want to get involved and say ‘I’m here’ when they shouldn’t do.
“That is effectively down to poor leadership, lack of direction and lack of operational advice to these individuals on how to process VAR. It’s not happening in other countries.
“We’re into our fourth season here. That’s why I’m saying these lot can’t deliver it so let’s have an independent panel.
“We can argue about the theatrics of the Chelsea goalkeeper, which were basically unacceptable in my opinion, but that seems to be part of the modern game that does make like difficult for the match officials.
“You can cry wolf and he’s succeeded on this occasion. Maybe the next time you will not. That is the true danger of these things, when a player is truly injured and the referee thinks ‘No, he’s conning me’.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has issued a “furious” West Ham fans claim amid a new legal controversy.