Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag issues angry response to VAR controversy - 'Three times'
Manchester United fell to another Premier League defeat, this time at West Ham United, but Erik ten Hag was left furious by the decision to award the Hammers a late penalty that ultimately proved decisive
by Alex Richards · The MirrorAn angry Erik ten Hag claimed Sunday was the THIRD TIME Manchester United have been screwed over by VAR this season after their controversial loss at West Ham.
Having missed a hatful of chances in the first half - not least Diogo Dalot’s horror miss when presented with an open goal - United fell behind in the second period, conceding to substitute Crysencio Summerville. But Casemiro looked to have saved a point for the Red Devils with a quick reply, heading home at the London Stadium to level things.
However, Jarrod Bowen scored the winner from the spot two minutes into stoppage time after a long VAR review for Matthijs de Ligt’s challenge on Danny Ings. Referee David Coote took his time studying the pitchside monitor before awarding the spot-kick, to the horror of United’s under-fire manager and his players. In the press box, former United midfielder Darren Fletcher, now on the staff, stormed out in frustration, declaring “every f****** week”.
A Premier League statement on the decision said: "The referee did not award a penalty to West Ham for a challenge by de Ligt on Ings. The VAR deemed there was sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned his original decision and awarded a penalty."
And Ten Hag made his displeasure crystal clear immediately after the match, with the under-fire Dutchman fuming: "Three times this season we feel injustice.
“Before the season there was the instruction about VAR only interfering in clear and obvious mistakes. That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the on field 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.”
On whether he had spoken to the officials, Ten Hag responded: "I spoke with them. But the decision is made. There's no way back and that's football.
“That's a 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."
The Dutchman had been pretty pleased with what he had seen from his side overall, but was disappointed with their failures in front of goal.
“We have to score, we created so many chances,” he said. “We should've been two or three up.
Second half we were forcing it but we allowed them into the game. When you are losing 1-0 you need big personality and character, and the team showed resilience to get back into it. [But it was] unfair and unjust the way we conceded the penalty.”
Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui said: “The players say it's a penalty and the referee says it is a penalty so I am sure they are right.
“But I haven't seen it. I prefer to highlight that after they scored we keep the energy and positive momentum to win the match. I prefer to keep that energy.”
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