Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has slammed VAR after his side conceded a late penalty in defeat at West Ham
A poor start to the season continued for Manchester United at the London Stadium, in a game that concluded with stoppage-time drama.
Ten Hag’s team dominated the opening exchanges but were guilty of missing a series of good chances, with Diogo Dalot guilty of a shocking miss with an open goal gaping.
Crysencio Summerville’s goal punished the visitor’s profligacy with a 74th-minute opener for the Hammers, though Casemiro’s equaliser looked to have rescued Manchester United a point seven minutes later.
There was a late twist, however, as VAR intervened to award West Ham a penalty. Matthijs de Ligt and Danny Ings came together inside the penalty box, though there were no appeals from the West Ham players for a spot-kick.
VAR official Michael Oliver recommended on-field referee David Coote consult the pitchside monitor and a controversial decision was made to award a penalty.
Jarrod Bowen made no mistake to win it for West Ham with Ten Hag aghast at the ‘injustice’ of the decision.
“Three times this season we feel injustice. We have to score, we created so many chances,” Ten Hag said speaking to BBC MOTD.
“We should’ve been two or three up. Second half we were forcing it but we allowed them into the game. When you are losing 1-0 you need big personality and character of the team and showed resilience to get back into it. Unfair and unjust the way we conceded the penalty.”
‘It’s not right’ – Ten Hag on penalty controversy
On the penalty incident, he added: “It was so difficult to see. Before the season there was the instruction about VAR only interfering in clear and obvious mistakes. That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the on field referee.
“More frustrations but I can do nothing with that. They don’t collect points and that’s what we have to do. We have to look in the mirror, we don’t score in a good game from our side. Create loads of chances and concede none but when you lose in this way it’s a bad feeling.
“I spoke with them (the officials). But the decision is made. There’s no way back and that’s football. That’s a third time I have felt injustice in the season and it has a big impact on our team and on our scores and where we are in the table. It’s not right.”
