“Dermot Gallagher Gives Verdict on West Ham Penalty Against Man Utd: ‘He Made the Right Decision'”
Manchester United conceded a late penalty against West Ham United over the weekend when Matthijs de Ligt was ruled to have fouled Danny Ings, sparking frustration among the United supporters.
The match ended in a 2-1 victory for West Ham after Jarrod Bowen scored from the spot.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, speaking on Sky Sports, weighed in on the controversial decision, saying that United fans have reason to feel aggrieved.
Initially, the referee chose not to award a penalty, but a VAR review overturned this call.
Gallagher expressed his disagreement with the final decision: “I didn’t think it was a penalty.
It wasn’t an intervention. It was a coming together, with De Ligt doing little wrong as Ings moves into him.
The referee rightly allowed play to continue, and I was even hopeful that he would stick to his original decision after reviewing the footage.
The biggest surprise to me was when he changed his mind.”
Though De Ligt’s tackle may have seemed slightly reckless, many believe it didn’t constitute a clear and obvious error by the referee.
The challenge looked like a typical collision within the penalty area, and it was far from a clear foul where VAR intervention seemed necessary.
United manager Erik ten Hag voiced his disappointment following the match, marking this as the third time this season he’s felt wronged by officiating decisions.
He explained his stance, noting, “This is not a clear and obvious mistake by the on-field referee. I spoke with them, but the decision stands.
There’s no way back, and that’s football.
This is the third time I’ve felt an injustice this season. It’s impacting our team, our results, and our place in the table, and it’s just not right.”
While Manchester United’s challenging season can’t be blamed solely on refereeing, these incidents have undeniably added to their struggles.
The team remains in the bottom half of the Premier League standings, but United fans and staff alike feel that the quality and consistency of officiating could use improvement.
