A few West Ham United fans have been fuming on social media after ‘more inconsistencies’ from the Premier League’s use of VAR after Crystal Palace had a goal denied for handball at Aston Villa on Sunday.
Some Hammers fans are up in arms that Eagles defender Mamadou Sakho saw his opening strike chalked off at Villa Park over the weekend, as the Irons recently fell to defeat at home to Burnley as a result of a Jay Rodriguez winner that occurred in very similar circumstances.
Rodriguez broke the deadlock at the London Stadium earlier this month when the forward met Charlie Taylor’s delivery, but while referee Michael Oliver was happy to give the goal replays showed the ball appeared to clip the Clarets’ man where the shoulder meets the arm.
Any contact with any part of an attacker’s arm, whether accidental or deliberate, has been grounds for goals to be chalked off this season, with VAR being used by the Premier League to deny any goal that was scored illegitimately.
Sakho could have argued that his goal should have stood on Sunday like Rodriguez’s was, as the ball likewise struck the outer corner of his shoulder before beating Villa stopper Pepe Reina, though the Frenchman saw his strike ruled out following the customary VAR check.
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Like Oliver at the London Stadium, the on-the-ground referee in Birmingham Martin Atkinson was happy to allow Sakho’s goal to stand until the VAR check was completed, but then opted to side with his colleague’s decision from Stockley Park after multiple viewings were carried out.
The goal meant Palace did not take the lead in the early stages and would go on to fall behind in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, and concede again later in the second half as Villa swept up the points to remain four points from safety with three games to play.
With West Ham in a relegation fight with Aston Villa, Watford and AFC Bournemouth, Palace taking any points on Sunday would have come as a huge relief for David Moyes’ side.
As such, these Irons fans were left livid when Sakho’s goal was disallowed, highlighting ‘inconsistencies’ with how VAR is being used by the Premier League.
Seeing as the Sakho goal got disallowed today, why wasn’t this?
More inconsistencies by VAR! @FA https://t.co/D67rBpFKsT— Andrew Cummings (@ac_cummings82) July 12, 2020
@JeffStelling these decisions are massive at the bottom of the league. It can’t be guess work. If Sakho is disallowed then this has to be disallowed. Zero consistency
— Richard Osborne (@OzyOsborne) July 12, 2020
@premierleague @talkSPORT @SkySportsPL how can this be a goal but the Sakho for palace goal wasn’t don’t make sense https://t.co/EMLKm8IW4v
— ⚒ Leon ⚒ (@djleon1983) July 12, 2020
I think the officials need to be questioned why Mamadou Sakho’s goal was disallowed against Villa earlier today, but Jay Rodriguez’ goal against us last week was allowed to stand?
There is literally no difference. pic.twitter.com/p1wsX0q9r8
— West Ham Fan Zone (@WHUFCFZ) July 12, 2020
Not all Irons supporters posted just their frustrations at the ‘inconsistencies’ with the decisions being made, with some opting to take to social media to declare that both goals should have stood.
Both goals ain’t they. Every week they manage to mess it up even more
— Matt ⚒ Gladwell (@CarltonGoal) July 12, 2020
Others, however, called for the end of VAR in football as the technology and application of it is not suited for the game.
I’m not saying this as a “look at me I’m right” but this is exactly why it’s not viable in football. The vast majority of decisions are opinion based. It’s not football. #VAR @FansAgainstVAR_
I am right by the way. https://t.co/Vr6jwaY2pQ
— Neil Rickards (@NeilTheKid) July 12, 2020