Howard Webb at conference with Graham Potter in circular inset
(Credit: Imago)
Mark Smith
Sat 23 August 2025 9:40, UK
West Ham had zero answers yet again as they were smashed 5-1 by Chelsea at the London Stadium on Friday evening.
Despite Lucas Paqueta putting the Irons ahead with a screamer, a disallowed goal by Niclas Fullkrug was as good as it got after, as the Blues ran riot in the Premier League.
Jean-Clair Todibo looked to be clearly offside before the German scored, but it took minutes for VAR to intervene after no movement from the linesman, with the Premier League forced into a statement.
Keith Hackett was left scratching his head at the process.
Niclas Fullkrug in West Ham action
Fullkrug was denied his first goal of the Premier League season (Credit: Imago)
PGMOL called to make change already in Premier League
This article contains exclusive comments from former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Hackett admitted that you would have expected the assistant to flag for offside, given how close he was to Todibo and Marc Cucurella.
The former FIFA-listed referee admitted that the semi-automated system is quicker in sharing an answer, and called for change as the season goes on, given the “unacceptable” wait.
“It was a very tight call, and one might expect the assistant referee to raise his flag,” Hackett told West Ham Zone.
“The Semi-Automated System in Europe using Hawkeye and the Adidas Chip in the ball is certainly much quicker in delivering an answer.
“Hopefully, as the season passes, they will refine the system to deliver the answer quicker than an unacceptable 90 seconds.”
West Ham manager Graham Potter stares out of the dugout.
Potter is on thin ice at West Ham already (Credit: Imago)
West Ham join VAR frustration already in new Premier League season
There have already been several incidents that have left fans scratching their heads this season.
It took nearly two minutes to disallow the goal from Fullkrug, despite the replays and footage looking quite clear, as hard as it is to admit.
Marco Senesi avoided a clear red card for handball in Bournemouth vs Liverpool
James Tarkowski was harshly penalised for a supposed handball in Everton vs Leeds
Matheus Cunha appeared to be clearly fouled in the box for Manchester United vs Arsenal
This is just another example of the system not working in the Premier League.
While the replays and time it took meant that the right decision was reached, the same may not be said about the other examples, only one week into the Premier League season.
Unfortunately for Potter, not going 2-1 ahead in this game may have seen his final piece of credit evaporate at the London Stadium, as West Ham could decide to make a manager change.
Sign up for the West Ham Zone WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking West Ham United news sent straight to your phone.
Related Posts