After Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham, manager Erik ten Hag expressed his frustration with the Premier League’s VAR system, especially over the penalty decision that cost his team the match. He was particularly critical of both the on-field referee David Coote and VAR official Michael Oliver, arguing that they lacked the “personality” to make bold calls.
The controversial incident took place in the final minutes, when United defender Matthijs de Ligt collided with West Ham’s Danny Ings. Coote initially allowed play to continue, but Oliver recommended a review, which resulted in a penalty. Jarrod Bowen converted from the spot in the 92nd minute, sealing United’s fourth league loss of the season.
The Premier League’s Match Centre indicated that Oliver saw sufficient contact to merit a review, but Ten Hag was upset, arguing that the ‘referee’s call’ guideline, which emphasizes maintaining on-field decisions in marginal cases, was disregarded. United fans, already feeling aggrieved by recent decisions, saw this intervention as another example of biased officiating that unfairly tilted the match in West Ham’s favor.
Ten Hag, visibly frustrated, stated, “Today’s events prove that football isn’t always fair. VAR is supposed to step in for clear and obvious errors, but that wasn’t the case here. We’re told it should only intervene for blatant mistakes, yet we saw a reversal that cost us the game. It’s not the first time either—against Spurs, VAR didn’t intervene on a critical decision that went against us, but now it does for a call that wasn’t even clear-cut.”
He clarified that his criticism wasn’t aimed at individual referees but at the VAR process. He questioned the lengthy review, noting that Coote took three minutes to decide. “In high-pressure moments, officials need the courage to stick with the right call. The VAR process needs improvement, and those handling it should be ready to make bold decisions,” he added.
The loss highlighted United’s struggles in front of goal, with Diogo Dalot missing a key opportunity and the team hitting the crossbar twice. Despite numerous first-half chances, they failed to equalize after Crysencio Summerville put West Ham ahead in the 74th minute. United has now scored just eight goals in nine league matches, raising concerns for Ten Hag.
Reflecting on the game, Ten Hag said, “We played excellent football, especially in the first half, controlling possession and creating several quality chances. The finishing was lacking, but the overall play was there. When you create that many chances, you have to trust that the goals will come.”
Despite the officiating frustrations, Ten Hag remained optimistic about the team’s potential, emphasizing the need for composure in front of goal to turn dominance into wins.
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