Opinion: VAR Made a Significant Error in West Ham’s 1-1 Draw with Brighton

Brighton had several excellent opportunities to claim all three points against West Ham, but Lukasz Fabianski produced a few remarkable saves to secure a hard-fought draw.

 

West Ham, now three games unbeaten, have somewhat stabilized after a difficult run.

 

However, manager Julen Lopetegui will need to inspire further improvement, particularly with a challenging set of fixtures looming during the festive period.

 

The club’s hierarchy will expect no slip-ups in their league position.

Upcoming Fixtures:

Thursday, 26th December

Premier League

Southampton vs. West Ham (16:00)

Sunday, 29th December

Premier League

West Ham vs. Liverpool (18:15)

Saturday, 4th January

Premier League

Man City vs. West Ham (16:00)

Friday, 10th January

FA Cup

Aston Villa vs. West Ham (21:00)

 

Despite the recent draw, some West Ham supporters remain frustrated with referee Rob Jones and VAR.

 

Controversial Incident: Estupinan’s Foul on Kilman

 

In the 84th minute of the match, Brighton full-back Pervis Estupinan committed a foul on Max Kilman that many felt deserved a red card. Jones, positioned close to the incident, issued a yellow card.

 

Estupinan slid in with both feet raised, making significant contact with Kilman’s left shin, visibly rocking his shin pad.

 

The foul left Kilman in pain and appeared reckless and dangerous.

 

VAR reviewed the incident but surprisingly did not recommend an on-field review, concluding that Jones’ initial decision of a yellow card was sufficient.

 

Many observers were shocked, as the tackle seemed to meet the criteria for serious foul play.

 

VAR’s Decision Explained

 

The Premier League Match Centre explained the decision on X (formerly Twitter), stating:

 

“The referee issued a yellow card to Estupiñán for a challenge on Kilman.

 

VAR checked for a potential red card and deemed that the referee’s call was not clearly and obviously wrong.”

 

While Jones had a slightly obstructed view of the challenge, VAR’s role is precisely to assist in such situations.

 

This appeared to be an instance where additional input could have resulted in a more appropriate decision.

 

Although no one likes to see players sent off unnecessarily, Estupinan’s tackle warranted a red card, and he was fortunate to remain on the field.

 

Other Concerns

 

On a separate note, West Ham fans voiced disappointment in Niclas Fullkrug’s performance.

 

The forward lasted only 57 minutes before being substituted against Brighton, raising questions about his impact in key matches.

 

West Ham’s ability to navigate their tough upcoming schedule will be crucial as they aim to solidify their position in both the league and cup competitions.

 

The controversy surrounding Estupinan’s foul, however, underscores ongoing frustrations with VAR’s application and decision-making.