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‘Definitely not’: Erik ten Hag reveals he spoke with officials after controversial penalty in West Ham defeat

Manchester United lost 2-1 at West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Red Devils dominated the first half but were let down by their woeful finishing.

Summerville broke the deadlock in the second half, but Casemiro quickly equalised.

West Ham were awarded a late penalty after VAR intervened, and Jarrod Bowen scored the winner. Erik ten Hag was furious with the decision.

He told the BBC: “It was so difficult to see. Before the season, there was an instruction about VAR only interfering in clear and obvious mistakes.

“That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the referee.

“More frustrations, but I can do nothing with that. They don’t collect points, and that’s what we have to do. We have to look in the mirror – we don’t score in a good game from our side.

“Create loads of chances and concede none, but when you lose in this way, it’s a bad feeling. I spoke with them. But the decision is made. There’s no way back, and that’s football.


“That’s the third time I have felt injustice in the season, and it has a big impact on our team and on our scores and where we are in the table. It’s not right.”

Man United were wrongfully punished

VAR deemed there was sufficient contact by Matthijs de Ligt on Danny Ings when the duo competed for a ball inside the box.

The contact was minimal. It was nothing more than two players trying to reach for a ball and pulling out.

The on-field referee, David Coote, didn’t see that as a foul initially but went to the monitor after VAR’s interception.

Michael Oliver, acting as VAR, thought this was a ‘clear error’.

Coote was seemingly unconvinced. However, after a long conversation with Oliver and multiple replays, he eventually pointed to the spot.

Ten Hag has every right to be outraged. It will be intriguing to hear the conversation between the two officials when the audio is released.

This article was written by .

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