Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag strongly criticized the Premier League’s VAR process after a controversial penalty contributed to United’s 2-1 loss to West Ham. Ten Hag questioned the decision-making that led to the late penalty against United, accusing VAR officials and on-field referee David Coote of lacking the “personality” to make a decisive call.
The incident arose after United defender Matthijs de Ligt clashed with West Ham’s Danny Ings, leading Coote to initially wave play on.
However, VAR official Michael Oliver recommended a review, ultimately resulting in a penalty call. Jarrod Bowen converted the spot-kick in the 92nd minute, handing United their fourth league defeat of the season.
The Premier League Match Centre reported that Oliver judged the contact on Ings’ lower leg sufficient for a penalty review. However, Ten Hag was infuriated, suggesting the ‘referee’s call’ principle, meant to prioritize on-field decisions in marginal situations, had been improperly applied. Many United fans shared his frustration, feeling the VAR intervention unfairly tilted the game toward West Ham at a critical point.
Clearly exasperated, Ten Hag stated, “Football isn’t always fair, and today was one of those days. VAR is supposed to address only clear and obvious errors, but that standard wasn’t met today.” He argued that VAR should only interfere in “blatant” cases, noting a similar instance in a recent game against Spurs where VAR didn’t intervene on a key decision. Ten Hag emphasized that his grievance was with the VAR process itself, not with individual officials.
He also commented on the lengthy decision-making time, with Coote taking three minutes to finalize the call. “In high-stakes moments, the officials need the courage to stick with the right decision. The VAR process needs improvement, but those in charge must be prepared to make decisive calls,” he added.
United’s own missed chances added to the frustration. Diogo Dalot missed an open goal, the team hit the crossbar twice, and multiple clear opportunities went unconverted in the first half.
Crysencio Summerville gave West Ham the lead in the 74th minute, and despite United’s relentless efforts, they couldn’t find the equalizer. With only eight goals in nine games and a negative goal difference, United’s finishing has become a significant concern.
Despite his frustration with the officiating, Ten Hag was optimistic about his team’s overall play, highlighting their control, structure, and the high-quality chances created. He urged his team to maintain composure and continue pushing, believing goals would follow if they stayed consistent.
With Ten Hag under pressure, the controversial loss heightens scrutiny, but he remains convinced that improved finishing will turn United’s dominance into points.
Leave a Reply