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West Ham penalty controversy emerges v Bournemouth. Credit: Sky Sports
Harri Burton
Mon 16 December 2024 22:40, UK
Danny Murphy was fuming at the decision to award West Ham a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Monday.
Niclas Fullkrug was inches from scoring a late winner before an intervention from VAR saw Tyler Adams punished for a handball inside the penalty box on 16 December.
Lucas Paqueta blasted the ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 87th minute, thinking he had secured all three points for his team before Enes Unal scored an outrageous free-kick moments later.
Speaking live via talkSPORT [16 December, 9:40pm], Murphy said: “He’s in a natural position, isn’t he? I don’t care, it’s never a penalty in a million years. It’s bizarre.
“You can’t give a penalty for something like that – the game’s gone. He’s gone to block the ball. The flick of the hand actually puts the ball on Fullkrug’s head.
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“If he scores, would they have disallowed it? Of course, they wouldn’t. He’s going to give it. Clueless.”
West Ham United penalty controversy emerges v Bournemouth
Julen Lopetegui will have had no issues after Chris Kavanagh decided to award a penalty in his side’s favour but there is definitely an argument to be made over the controversial moment.
The Hammers thought they had secured all three points away from the London Stadium, only for Unal to fire home a screamer from long range, putting the fire out on the possible three points.
The Premier League’s officials are often criticised for their decision, especially the ones at Stockley Park, and this contentious decision will not help their case despite being in favour of the Hammers.
A sharing of the points at the Vitality Stadium probably feels like the fair result for both sides, giving a very back-and-forth display but it will certainly hit the wind out of the Hammers’ sails.
However, Lopetegui should be pleased overall with his side’s determination, having to wait until the final five minutes to hit the back of the net.
In other West Ham news, Andy Goldstein was astonished by what Darren Bent said about the Hammers live on air.
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