Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag said he felt “grieved and unjust” after his team lost 2-1 to West Ham, after conceding a controversial penalty in the final minutes.
His side wasted a host of chances and should have been out of sight by half-time, but Jarrod Bowen’s penalty condemned United to a fourth Premier League defeat of the season.
After waving off the initial penalty appeal, referee David Coote was sent to the pitchside monitor by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to review Matthijs de Ligt’s challenge on Danny Ings.
Cote pointed to the penalty kick after a long pause and ignored the protests of United players over a handball from Ings, before Bowen scored in the second minute of stoppage time.
“Before the season, there were instructions about VAR only intervening for obvious fouls,” Ten Hag said in an interview with BBC’s Match of the Day programme.
“This is certainly not a clear and obvious error from the referee on the field.”
The result raised West Ham to 13th place in the English Premier League, one place behind Manchester United, who won only three of their first nine matches.
Dutchman Ten Hag said that he spoke to the referees after the match, which was held at the London Stadium.
“I talked to them,” Ten Hag added. “But the decision has been made. There is no way back and this is football.
“This is the third time I have felt unfairly this season, and this has had a huge impact on our team, our results and our position in the table. This is not true.”
The English Premier League explained through its Match Center account on the X website that it was decided that there was sufficient contact to award the penalty kick.
The English Premier League said: “The referee did not award a penalty kick to West Ham due to De Ligt’s intervention on Ings.”
“The VAR considered that there was sufficient contact with Ings’ lower leg and recommended that the matter be reviewed on the pitch. The referee overturned his original decision and awarded a penalty kick.”
When asked about the penalty kick decision, West Ham coach Julen Lopetegui said: “I didn’t see it. The players say it’s a penalty kick and the referee says it’s a penalty kick, so I’m sure they’re right.”
“I prefer to emphasize that after they score, we maintain the energy and positive momentum to win the game. I prefer to maintain this energy.”
