‘There was a clear…’ – Ex-FIFA official baffled by decision in West Ham v Arsenal

There has been criticism of a decision made by Anthony Taylor during the West Ham versus Arsenal match. Keith Hackett believes Taylor should not have allowed Arsenal’s first goal to stand. The goal came in the 10th minute of the game, with Gabriel Magalhães heading in a corner from Arsenal. However, Lucas Paquetá seemed to be pushed in the back by Jurrien Timber just before the ball was crossed in. Hackett, a former Premier League and FIFA official, was surprised the goal was not ruled out. He said the push on Paquetá by Timber was clear and should have led to a foul being given.

Danny Murphy also agreed with Hackett’s opinion. Speaking on Match of the Day, Murphy said he saw the push and thought it was a foul that could have been called on another day. He added that it was a 50-50 situation and that referees might look out for such incidents. The decision not to call the foul did not help West Ham, as they ended up conceding five goals in the first half. This made the game difficult for them, but Hackett also pointed out that the two penalties given against West Ham during the match were correct decisions.

The controversy over the first goal could have been important, as it was an early goal in a game that saw seven goals in total. Hackett mentioned that if the foul had been given, it might have changed the course of the game. It could have delayed West Ham’s poor defending in the first half, but Hackett acknowledged that it might not have made much difference in the end. The key issue for many fans is consistency in the decisions made by referees, especially with the amount of technology used in modern football. Fans expect clear decisions, and it seems the push on Paquetá should have been noticed.

Hackett emphasized that with the current technology in football, it is surprising that such incidents are missed. The VAR system and other tools should help referees spot these types of fouls. Fans often ask for fair and consistent decisions, and Hackett feels this was a missed opportunity. The incident with Timber and Paquetá raised questions about the consistency of refereeing in the match. However, it’s possible that even if the foul had been given, it would not have stopped Arsenal from winning the game.

West Ham’s performance in the match raised some other concerns. There was discussion about the form of one of the West Ham players after the match. This news has sparked some debate among fans, and there is more interest in how the team will perform in future matches. Despite the loss, the main talking point remains the controversial decision on the first goal and how it could have affected the game.

This match highlighted the challenges referees face in making decisions quickly during a fast-paced game. However, the use of technology like VAR should help reduce mistakes. Fans and analysts like Hackett and Murphy want to see more consistency and fairness from referees in similar situations. They believe that clear fouls, such as the one on Paquetá, should be given more attention in the future to ensure that matches are decided on fair terms.