Jeff Stelling, West Ham
Jeff Stelling comments on West Ham's transfer window [Credit: talkSPORT]
Jonathan Burnett
Tue 10 December 2024 8:40, UK
West Ham United not conceding a penalty against Wolves shows exactly why VAR “is so laughable”, Jeff Stelling has said.
Speaking on talkSPORT (10 December, 6:10am), Stelling wasn’t happy with the PGMOL’s explanation for why a penalty wasn’t given after Konstantinos Mavropanos appeared to foul Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.
Wolves not being given a spot-kick for the incident was one of several controversies in the Irons’ 2-1 victory, with Mavropanos’ involvement also sparking questions over Jarrod Bowen’s winner.
Stelling said: “Mavropanos stepping on Bellegarde’s foot; the explanation from the PGMOL was that the referee had not made a clear and obvious error.
“No, he didn’t – well, apart from the clear and obvious error that he’d made, in not spotting that he’s stepped on his blooming foot.
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“It’s a penalty, and that’s why VAR is so laughable, is that we can all see it, even West Ham fans can see it’s a penalty.”
West Ham United win over Wolves mired in controversy
The Irons have certainly become accustomed to doing things the hard way so far this season, and a victory by narrow margins for Julen Lopetegui over his former employers was no different.
Billed as a battle between two managers on the brink of the sack, it’s Gary O’Neil who is now really teetering having been on the losing end of what was a must-win match for both teams.
Konstantinos Mavropanos, West Ham
Konstantinos Mavropanos was involved in two controversial moments against Wolves [Credit: Imago]
The victory will likely spare Lopetegui’s job for the time being in East London, but given the fine margins and aforementioned controversies going in his favour, the Spaniard should still count himself lucky.
As a result, the jury remains well and truly out on Lopetegui, but the 58-year-old has bought some much-needed time to turn things around as they sit 14th in the Premier League table.
Lopetegui and his side may not have luck fall on their side quite like it did against Wolves going forward though, and as a result there’s still pressure on him to prove he can succeed in the job long-term.
In other West Ham news, Jim White shared what he’d been told about Michail Antonio’s recovery period following his car accident.
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