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Connor Burgess
Sun 22 December 2024 9:43, UK
Mark Halsey has responded to a VAR corruption claim after what happened in the Premier League clash between West Ham United and Brighton.
The Hammers salvaged a point at the London Stadium on Saturday [21 December] after Mohammed Kudus cancelled out Mats Wieffer’s opener.
However, former Premier League referee Halsey believes Pervis Estupinian was lucky to escape a red card after his reckless challenge on Max Kilman and shared his verdict on the challenge via X [21 December].
He said: “Very surprised Var didn’t recommend a review this was a challenge that endangered the player’s safety with excessive force IMO.”
Halsey was responding to a post by X user West Ham Place, who claimed that “VAR is corrupt” because of the decision.
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While the “VAR is corrupt” claim to which Halsey responds too is slightly hyperbolic given the circumstances, Estupinian undoubtedly should have received his marching orders for his challenge.
Not only does he fly into the tackle with two feet off the ground, his follow-through goes right into Kilman’s shin, an inch or two higher, and we could have been looking at a potentially season-ending offence.
However, another former Premier League official, Mike Dean, described it as a “50/50 call” for referee Rob Jones to make – that challenge is 100 per cent a red card, so for Dean to issue such a baffling claim, perhaps shouts for corruption in VAR are not exaggerated after all.
Very surprised Var didn’t recommend a review this was a challenge that endangered the player’s safety with excessive force 🟥imo https://t.co/8qX6LT8Sub
— Mark Halsey (@RefereeHalsey) December 21, 2024
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The Irons are currently enjoying a rich vein of form for the first time in Julen Lopetegui’s tenure and, in all likelihood, would have secured the three points against ten men.
Therefore, the West Ham faithful have every right to be furious with this decision even Estupinan can be seen looking guilty as sin after the challenge and could hardly believe his luck that he was allowed to remain on the pitch.
In other West Ham news, Carlos Soler is ready to agree a pay cut at the Irons as permanent transfer news emerges.
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