Former Premier League referee weighs in on VAR controversy in West Ham’s draw with Everton on Sky Sports.

West Ham United took the lead at Goodison Park on 15 March, with Tomas Soucek scoring in the second half.

However, they were denied victory by a late equaliser from Jake O’Brien.

Earlier in the match, Graham Potter was left frustrated when Everton’s Beto was awarded a penalty following a coming together in the box.

Fortunately for West Ham, VAR intervened, overturning the decision.

Just before halftime, referee Darren Bond initially ruled that Konstantinos Mavropanos had fouled Beto in the penalty area and pointed to the spot.

However, after reviewing the incident on the monitor, he reversed his decision, as replays showed Beto had actually kicked the ground rather than being fouled by Mavropanos.

Former referee Dermot Gallagher discussed the incident on Sky Sports (17 March, 11:28 am), stating: “A number of issues: clearly not a penalty as Beto kicks the ground and not Mavropanos.

Not a penalty. VAR intervened very, very quickly. He took a look at the screen once and said no. Mavropanos was never fearful that was going to be a penalty.”

Potter Needs a Strong Finish to the Season

Considering Everton’s current form under former West Ham boss David Moyes, who has led them to a nine-match unbeaten run, a draw at Goodison Park is a respectable result for the Hammers.

However, Potter will be eager for his team to return to winning ways, with just nine matches left in the season.

The ex-Chelsea boss aims to set the foundation for next season, hoping to push West Ham up the Premier League table and back into European contention.

Since replacing Julen Lopetegui, Potter has faced challenges but has started to see improvements in performances.

Once he fully implements his vision and clears out underperforming players, West Ham should continue on a positive trajectory.

Expecting an immediate transformation from a new manager in just half a season is unrealistic. Fans need to remain patient and trust the process under Potter.

His track record at Brighton proves he is a skilled squad builder, despite his struggles at Chelsea. If given time, he could turn West Ham into a formidable side once again.