VAR Misread on West Ham’s Penalty Against Man Utd
Referees’ chief Howard Webb says the penalty awarded to West Ham against Manchester United in Erik ten Hag’s last game was a mistake. The decision, made after a VAR review, led to Jarrod Bowen’s goal that sealed West Ham’s 2-1 win and, ultimately, Ten Hag’s exit as manager just a day later.
In that heated match on October 27, video assistant referee (VAR) Michael Oliver recommended a penalty after Matthijs de Ligt’s challenge on Danny Ings. The on-field referee, David Coote, had initially waved play on but reversed his call after checking the pitch-side monitor. Webb, though, wasn’t convinced.
“I thought it was a misread by the VAR,” Webb said on Sky Sports’ Mic’d Up programme. “This is a VAR who’s typically sharp and reliable, but here, he got laser-focused on De Ligt’s leg. The ball was already gone, and contact with Ings wasn’t enough for a penalty. It’s a call we’d normally leave as-is, no matter what the original decision was.”
On-Field Decisions Aren’t Set in Stone
Referees don’t have to go along with the VAR’s advice, Webb pointed out. They’re told to stick to their gut when reviewing footage on the monitor. But this time, Coote agreed with Oliver’s suggestion and gave the penalty to West Ham, a decision that Webb believes could’ve gone the other way.
David Coote Suspended After Social Media Video
Adding to the tension, Coote was suspended immediately after the game when a video of him allegedly making derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager, Jurgen Klopp, surfaced online.
“We’re aware of a video circulating on social media, and we’re taking it seriously,” Webb shared. “We’ve started a full investigation, and Coote’s suspension will stay in place until it’s all sorted.”
Howard Webb, who heads up PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), chose not to share further details until the investigation is completed. So, for now, the focus remains on how VAR’s involvement can sometimes muddy rather than clear the waters.
