MARK CLATTENBURG: VAR got Sheffield United’s late penalty against West Ham VERY wrong during bonkers draw at Bramall Lane… and it’s astounding how Jarrod Bowen wasn’t given a spot kick for the Hammers
Sheffield United and West Ham played out an entertaining draw at Bramall Lane this weekend, but it was not without controversy.
The match finished 2–2 and ended with two late penalties and two red cards in stoppage time in an eventful four-goal thriller.
Maxwel Cornet had opened the scoring for the Hammers before on-loan striker Ben Brereton-Diaz leveled just before half-time.
David Moyes’ side then thought they had secured victory thanks to James Ward-Prowse’s late penalty before Oli McBurnie was controversially awarded one of his own with virtually the last kick of the match. Rhian Brewster and Vladimir Coufal were given their marching orders as tensions in Sheffield threatened to boil over.
Mail Sport columnist Mark Clattenburg has given his verdict on every controversial incident at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United’s 2-2 draw against West Ham was filled with drama and controversy
Mail Sport columnist Mark Clattenburg has taken the lead on every major incident in the game
79 MINUTES – WEST HAM PENALTY
A simple one to start. Danny Ings squeezes out in front of his pursuer and Gustavo Hamer grabs the back of his leg.
That contact forces Ings to fall into the box. Clear penalty for West Ham. Referee Michael Salisbury understands this well.
JUDGMENT – CORRECT DECISION
90+3 MIN – RHIAN BROUWER RED CARD
Rhian Brewster launches Emerson. He’s off the floor, out of control, going at speed and the West Ham defender is lucky to see him coming in time to make sure his leg doesn’t get planted.
It’s exactly this level of challenge that can end players’ seasons. Salisbury initially only shows a yellow card. VAR Robert Jones is right to send it to his monitor so it can be set to red.
JUDGMENT – CORRECT DECISION… IF ANY
VAR Robert Jones ultimately made the right decision to send off Rhian Brewster
90+7 MINUTES – VLADIMIR COUFAL SECOND YELLOW – CORRECT DECISION
Vladimir Coufal was already booked after reacting angrily to Brewster’s tackle and he took a big risk by stamping on James McAtee’s foot here.
It wasn’t the most promising attack for Sheffield United and Salisbury initially signals to play advantage, but then blows so he can show Coufal a second yellow card. Good place.
JUDGMENT – CORRECT DECISION
90+13 MINUTES – SHEFFIELD UNITED PENALTY
This isn’t Alphonse Areola’s foul on Oli McBurnie. It’s a McBurnie foul on Areola! If you know football, you know Sheffield United and you know McBurnie, you know he’s going to try to disrupt the goalkeeper.
He does this by sticking his arm in Areola, who has a bloody lip due to his problems. It should have been a free kick for West Ham. Still, Salisbury awarded the penalty to Sheffield United.
This was a foul on Alphonse Areola – not Oli McBurnie! This was a clear and obvious error that needed to be fixed
This is where VAR frustrates me the most. This was a clear and obvious error that needed to be fixed. The clock showed 97:39 when the penalty was awarded and because Areola was injured, it was 102:07 when McBurnie finally took the penalty.
That was a long time for VAR to study the incident, and yet they stuck with the original call. It’s no wonder West Ham were furious.
VERDICT – VERY WRONG DECISION!
90+14 MINUTES – WEST HAM PENALTY NOT GIVEN
Wait, McBurnie was fouled, but not Bowen?
The lack of consistency is astonishing. Bowen tries to get to Ben Johnson’s cross but is wrestled to the ground by Anel Ahmedhodzic, who isn’t looking at the ball at all. Yet a free kick is awarded to Sheffield United.
It’s astonishing that McBurnie was awarded a penalty but not Jarrod Bowen after being wrestled to the ground by Anel Ahmedhodzic
If Salisbury thinks the collision involving McBurnie was a penalty, and that this rugby tackle on Bowen is not a penalty, then something is fundamentally wrong.
I understand there is a red-hot atmosphere at Bramall Lane, especially after so much late drama, but referees have to be strong enough to show consistency and accuracy until the end. That was missing here when important decisions had to be made.
VERDICT – VERY, VERY WRONG DECISION!