Callum Wilson has expressed his dismay at the decision to rule out his late equaliser against Arsenal on Sunday.
The striker thought he’d rescued a vital point for the Hammers in the 95th minute before a lengthy VAR check decided there was a foul in the build up, with fellow forward Pablo adjudged to have impeded goalkeeper David Raya.
It’s a decision which has led to worldwide debate over the validity of the decision, with many fans and pundits pointing to several other incidents that happened in the build-up to the foul in question, all of which were seemingly ignored or half-heartedly considered and cleared by the match officials.
And Wilson has broken his silence over the controversy, which may have severe consequences for West Ham’s Premier League status over the next couple of weeks.
Speaking to SkySports, Wilson said: “Are you saying it’s a foul? Possibly.
“But of course, there are incidents that have happened through the season that are similar.
“I just think if there’s consistency then there’s no complaints from anybody and I think with that specific incident five seconds before there’s obviously other fouls that are in there.
“So, if you’re going to pull up one you’re going to have to pull up all of them. I think he probably should have just let it see itself out and think it’s just handbags in the box and it is what it is. But it wasn’t to be.”
How did Trossard get away with it?
One of the main sticking points for many who are still upset with the decision is the role of Leandro Trossard, who can clearly be seen grappling with Pablo in the build up, without looking at the ball.
The assumption is that if he isn’t focusing on Pablo and is instead focusing on the ball, it’s likely the Hammers forward isn’t knocked off balance and he doesn’t foul Raya as a result. In isolation, Trossard clearly fouls Pablo, before Pablo fouls Raya.
And Wilson goes on to ask why that wasn’t properly looked at by VAR.
“If Trossard’s facing the ball and it’s a genuine challenge, and if you talk about Pablo’s hand on the goalkeeper as an isolated incident, of course it’s a foul,” Wilson continued.
“But if you look at Trossard not even facing the ball, pushing him, Gabriel pulling his shirt, he’s going to have to stop himself from falling somehow.
“Whether that’s putting his arm out and then trying to hold on to something, which unfortunately was the goalkeeper’s arm. If that were another player, and it stops him from jumping up to head the ball, it’s not going to get given as a foul.
“If it’s a foul, then Trossard before it is a foul.”
Wilson’s disallowed goal would have been the striker’s seventh of the season and his third after the 90th-minute.
But it was unjustly taken away from him and West Ham, who now sit two points adrift of 17th-placed Spurs with two fixtures left to play this season.