Credit: Imago

Harri Burton

Mon 11 May 2026 11:58, UK

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West Ham United and Arsenal could face retrospective action from the FA after emotions bubbled over at the London Stadium.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the crowding of referees is a growing problem in the Premier League this season.

The Gunners’ 1-0 win on Sunday, 10 May, was the main talking point of the entire weekend, with West Ham’s disallowed goal having a ripple effect on the rest of the Premier League table.

Callum Wilson’s late equaliser was ruled out due to a foul on David Raya, but with grappling on several players inside the penalty area missed, the controversy is likely to continue well into next weekend.

West Ham and Arsenal are at risk of retrospective punishment

Arsenal players, including an infuriated Gabriel Magalhaes, crowded Chris Kavanagh, arguing that the goal should be disallowed, while West Ham players did the same after the full-time whistle.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “At the start of the season, Howard Webb said grappling inside the penalty area would be punished. It was a waste of time. 

“This is a problem that’s been growing. When it comes to referees being surrounded at full-time, they should really get off the pitch as quickly as possible. It’s a possibility [sanctions from the FA]. 

“There’s got to be a degree of tolerance. But if any of the players are going over the top, the referee is still in charge. He or she can still caution those players. 

“They’ve got a defence mechanism, being able to deal with it on the day, rather than it going to a meeting around a table. They might come up with a rather different conclusion than football requires.” 

New footage would suggest Hammers deserved a penalty

An increasing number of supporters are beginning to realise that disallowing the goal was the right decision, but it is the lack of consistency across the season that has many spitting feathers.

Videos of the Gunners getting away with similar incidents are doing the rounds on social media, leaving Howard Webb and his PGMOL officials with questions to answer.

Footage from behind the set piece would suggest that the Hammers had a very good case for a penalty being awarded, despite the goal being ruled out, with Konstantinos Mavropanos being rugby tackled.

As well as the Hammers potentially being relegated this season, Man City are also impacted by the Premier League domino effect, but nothing can be done about the result now.