Former Premier League and England manager Sam Allardyce has slammed the BBC for its “biased” coverage of a controversial VAR decision between Arsenal and West Ham United.
The Hammers thought they had stolen a crucial point after Callum Wilson scored a knockdown from a corner, but his strike was ultimately ruled out for an earlier foul on David Raya.
Allardyce, speaking to BOYLE Sports and Footy Accumulators’ podcast, No Tippy Tappy Football, criticised the way the Hammers equaliser was chalked off, describing it as a “scandal”.
He said: “Based on what’s gone on in the Premier League for the past few seasons, I don’t think Sunday’s decision was correct.
“Arsenal have got away with scoring goals without free kicks given against them so many times this year.
“The BBC then brought a former referee in Darren Cann on Match of the Day – well, the referee isn’t going to say he’s got it wrong, is he! It’s so biased!
“I think the decision was outrageous, based on the amount of times freekicks don’t get given against the goalkeeper for that sort of thing.
“I’d say it’s a single-figure percentage for the number of times goalkeepers are given the benefit of the doubt that they’ve been fouled.”
Sam Allardyce has slammed the BBC for its ‘biased’ coverage
| PA
Allardyce continued: “There’s so much pulling, shoving and pushing that never gets given, so to give this one in such a big game – irrespective of how you look back at it – is a scandal.
“The game has become a war in the penalty box – it’s become rugby, not football. It’s just all nonsense.”
The former Premier League manager was not the only one raging at the VAR decision, with the Hammers’ boss, Nuno Espirito Santo, also making his feelings clear.
He said: “Due to the circumstances and the way it finished, we are all upset.
After a lengthy VAR call, West Ham’s goal was chalked off
| GETTY
“Look, there is a referee and VAR, there is circumstances in the past that have been judged different. Let’s not go further than that.
“Due to the recent seasons, it has been happening [similar incidents]. Even the referees don’t know what is a foul and what is not a foul, It creates doubt.
“Let’s look at the game overall. We made a very good match. Arsenal is a tough team. We lost the game.”
Nuno’s anger was echoed by Jarrod Bowen.
Nuno Espirito Santo voiced his anger at the call
| GETTY
The Hammers captain said: “Yeah [hard done by]. There is a lot of ways I could go about answering this question.
“Because we are on the receiving end, we will feel hard done by. Football is a sport that brings enjoyment and brings big moments. We had our big moment and thought we got back in the game. Look at something for five minutes, trying to find something.
“Goalkeepers are protected more than outfield players, and there is a lot of holding inside the box. Are you going to look at those every time and give a penalty? That is the only way that is the right way to do it.
“You can’t wipe a goalkeeper out, but the keeper has come in to grab the ball and has to expect contact. It’s the Premier League; there is going to be contact.”
