West Ham United Manager David Moyes has slammed the VAR decision for disallowing West Ham’s late equalizer against Chelsea on Saturday, 2nd September 2022. Moyes argued that Mendy dived and was not fouled.
London Derbies are now enshrouded in myriads of VAR controversies. On Premier League matchday 5, it was Tottenham against West Ham. Tottenham netted a winner at West London, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR check. Antonio Conte fumed. He argued that it was a goal, but a decision had already been taken that can not be reversed.
On Saturday, 2nd September 2022, another London Derby between Chelsea and West Ham ended in controversies after a VAR check disallowed a last-minute equalizer for West Ham.
The first half of the game witnessed a blank and unimpressive performance. Chelsea appeared frustrated as the visitors sat back at their own half to scuttle all attacking efforts by the Blues. Both sides failed to record a shot on target.
The second half witnessed a dramatic rain of four goals, none of which one was ruled out, generating controversies.
Michail Anthony struck to give the visitors a surprise lead. A defensive blunder by the Blues allowed Anthony’s close-range-tap-in to count.
It was a substitute, Chilwell, who poked home from a tight angle to equalize for the Blues. Kai Havert gave the Blues the much-needed win as he tapped home Chllwell’s assist to make it 2-1.
The match climaxed on the edges of controversies just a minute after Kai Havertz’s goal. Cornet struck high into the roof of the net, but it was controversially ruled out through a VAR check after Bowen had allegedly fouled Mendy in the build-up to the goal.
Chelsea escaped with a lucky win, but David Moyes was left fuming at the VAR decision.
A spotlight on the scenario saw Bowen being beaten to the ball. He had tried to jump over Mendy, but his legs made contact with Mendy’s shoulder, who then feigned injury and stayed down.
In a post-match press conference, David Moyes had described the VAR decision to disallow the goal as scandalous.
“Well have you seen it?! The goalkeeper comes out and fumbles… then acts as if it’s a shoulder injury! I thought ‘there’s no way he’s overturning this’… it was a ridiculously bad decision,” he fumed.
Moyes stated that Bowen said clearly that he did not touch Mendy, but he faked an injury.
“Jarrod [Bowen] says he hasn’t touched the goalkeeper at all. If anything, it might be a slight trailing foot, but the goalkeeper has already dropped the ball. He’s faked a shoulder injury. It didn’t affect him last 15 minutes.”
He also blamed Mendy for trying to do the same when West Ham scored their first goal but was unsuccessful.
“The goalkeeper tried to fake an injury on our first goal as well. So he’s done the same on the second goal”, the coach added.
Most pundits think that Bowen’s contact with Mendy, if there was any, was minimal and should not have been treated as a foul and disallow Cornet’s goal.
David Moyes was vocal in his comments, and there are fears he may likely clash and be sanctioned by the FA.
Watch Cornet’s Disallowed Goal Below
