It is not often that the entirety of the Premier League world is in agreement.
But lately, there is one thing that has been a lighting rod for fans, pundits, managers, players, and owners basically all on the same page: VAR, and the state of refereeing in what is supposed to be the greatest league on the planet.
Former referee Keith Hackett was confounded in his article for the Telegraph, calling the decision “horrendous.”
“Crikey me, this is horrendous. The decision to give West Ham a penalty that they won the game from – and could cost Erik ten Hag his job – is one of the worst I have ever seen. I cannot see how Matthijs de Ligt was adjudged to have fouled Danny Ings.
“I am struggling to even put this into words. It is bizarre – I am stunned. Actually, it is worse than bizarre. A park referee would not even give this as a penalty. Ten Hag has every right to be furious.
“(It is) a nonsensical decision – which could have major implications.”
The United Stand host Mark Goldbridge was fuming about the penalty decision, which saw a foul called on Matthijs de Ligt for a challenge on Danny Ings. It was just the latest controversial decision for VAR, in a season full of them.
Read Mark Goldbridge’s thoughts on Erik Ten Hag here
“I think it’s probably time to go, you know, and that might shock some people – but I actually am at that point now,” Goldbridge said on his United Stand podcast. “The VAR decision is absolutely shocking, but that is football’s choice. Manchester United voted to keep VAR, Wolves didn’t, 19 clubs voted to keep it, United fan groups asked the club to do something about it.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment, and unfortunately, I blame Manchester United. We had an opportunity this summer to do something about VAR, and we laughed and ridiculed Wolves like 19 other clubs – so don’t use it as a f*****g excuse now. You haven’t got an excuse.
“You chose to keep this, the fans hate it, and it’s not just United fans, it’s fans of other clubs as well. We don’t want it. We don’t trust it, and it damages us every weekend – it’s not just United, it’s Arsenal, Wolves, Liverpool. Do not come out talking about VAR if you’re Erik ten Hag or United, because you voted to keep it. The fans didn’t want it, fan groups asked you not to vote for it and you voted to keep it. You get what you deserve.
“That’s not a penalty in this game, in the Liverpool-Arsenal game, or any other game. It got five, and that’s just what you have to do. You have to swallow what you reap, and as fans, I am outraged.”
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