‘VAR will have taken a close look’ – Ex-PGMOL boss explains why controversial Burnley goal stood vs West Ham
Alphonse Areola only has himself to blame for conceding twice during West Ham’s win over Burnley at the London Stadium.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that VAR will have analysed the incident before allowing Josh Cullen’s goal to stand.
West Ham fans were already furious with Areola as the Clarets fought back throughout the 90 minutes on Saturday, 8 November, before goals from Tomas Soucek and Kyle Walker-Peters sealed a rare win.
Although not yet out of the Premier League relegation zone, Nuno Espirito Santo has won West Ham fans around quite quickly, having secured back-to-back wins after also beating Newcastle United.
Alphonse Areola wrong to fume over Burnley’s second goal
Mads Hermansen has failed to live up to expectations since his arrival from Leicester City during the summer, leaving the Hammers with Areola in between the sticks.
Both sets of goalkeepers made costly errors at the London Stadium, but with the Irons hoping for back-to-back wins for the first time since February, Areola put his team under unneccessary pressure.
In the seventh minute of added time, the Frenchman dropped the ball on the goalline, allowing Cullen to jump on the error and bundle home to give his side hope.
Of course, the Hammers were able to hang on for all three points, and while the shot-stopper was adamant that he had full control of the ball, Hackett would begged to differ.
Keith Hackett explains why Burnley’s goal deserved to stand
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “I can understand the goalkeeper’s frustration because he’s dropped the ball! That’s the first error that he’s made.
“I believe that the ball is loose, which enables the attacker to play on. I don’t think he’s endangered the safety of the goalkeeper, and I don’t like to see goals ruled out.
“VAR will have taken a close look, and they usually err on the side of caution. This is a goalkeeping error, so it isn’t a goal that should be ruled out. He’s not in control of the ball, and that’s why the goal should stand.”