By tf-lawyer.com Erik ten Hag expressed his frustration over what he perceived as an injustice after a controversial VAR decision contributed to Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat against West Ham at the London Stadium.
The match took a pivotal turn when referee Michael Oliver instructed on-field referee David Coote to review a collision between Matthijs de Ligt and West Ham striker Danny Ings. Despite the home crowd offering minimal appeal for a penalty and Coote initially allowing play to continue by deeming the contact insufficient, he changed his stance after reviewing the incident. This led to Jarrod Bowen converting the penalty in injury time, ultimately sealing the victory for West Ham and leaving Manchester United lingering in 14th place.
In post-match comments, Ten Hag stated, “Three times this season we feel injustice. We created so many chances and should’ve been two or three goals up. We allowed them to get back into the game. When you’re down 1-0, it takes big personalities, and the team showed resilience to come back. However, the way we conceded the penalty feels unfair and unjust.”
This season, United has faced their share of contentious decisions, including a rescinded red card for Bruno Fernandes against Tottenham and a frustrating moment in last week’s win over Brentford, where De Ligt was not allowed to re-enter the field after treatment for an injury. This latest incident only added to Ten Hag’s frustration with the officiating process.
“In football, the best team doesn’t always win, and that’s clear,” he remarked. “But the way VAR operated today wasn’t clear and obvious at all. The situation with Bruno’s red card against Spurs, where VAR should have intervened, contrasts with the incorrect decision today where they did interfere. Both instances significantly impacted the outcomes of those games. I’m not targeting any individual—I’m criticizing the entire process.”
Ten Hag acknowledged that United failed to capitalize on their opportunities against West Ham in the first half. “We always look in the mirror, but I can only fault the players for not scoring. The referee’s decision-making played a major role in this match,” he concluded.
On the other side, West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui defended the penalty decision, asserting his belief that the team deserved the victory. “I asked Danny Ings and he said it was a penalty,” he stated. “The VAR communicated with the referee, and he affirmed the decision. I’m confident they had a strong reason to make that call.”
