The controversial decision occurred when West Ham’s Callum Wilson found the net, only for the goal to be disallowed after a VAR review concluded that Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya had been fouled by Pablo. Fuming over what they perceive as inconsistency in officiating, West Ham plan to lodge a formal complaint with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). The club is seeking clarification on why Pablo was penalized and intends to request the audio exchange between referee Chris Kavanagh and video assistant referee Darren England, who advised Kavanagh to review the incident at the pitchside monitor.
West Ham, who would have moved level on points with 17th-placed Tottenham if the goal had been allowed and the match finished 1-1, expressed anger over a perceived lack of consistency in penalizing challenges during set pieces. However, many former referees have backed the decision, saying Kavanagh and England were correct.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is expected to address how best to handle grappling during set plays in its next round of discussions, beginning in the autumn. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta commended the officials, calling them “very brave,” and noted that the call could determine “the history of two massive clubs that are fighting with their lives to achieve their objectives.”