Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag criticized VAR’s controversial decision-making process following United’s 2-1 loss to West Ham. A last-minute penalty awarded to West Ham saw United slip to 14th in the Premier League standings, with Ten Hag highlighting inconsistencies in officiating as the team’s poor form continues.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expressed frustration after a VAR decision led to United's 2-1 loss to West Ham at the London Stadium. United were tied until a last-minute penalty was awarded to West Ham following a minor collision between United defender Matthijs de Ligt and West Ham’s Danny Ings. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Michael Oliver recommended an on-field review, and referee David Coote upheld the decision, allowing Jarrod Bowen to score the decisive penalty.
Ten Hag criticized the decision-making process, stating that VAR should intervene only when incidents are "clear and obvious," which he felt was not the case here. He pointed to similar controversial calls, recalling how VAR had failed to penalize a foul against United’s Bruno Fernandes in a previous match against Tottenham. Ten Hag suggested that Oliver’s seniority might have influenced Coote’s decision but refrained from direct criticism of the referees.
This latest loss drops Manchester United to 14th place in the Premier League, with only three wins in nine matches. Ten Hag acknowledged United’s struggles and attributed the recent setbacks to a lack of favorable breaks, emphasizing the team’s determination to improve. United will look to reverse their fortunes in the upcoming Carabao Cup match against Leicester City on Wednesday.
