Mark Clattenburg insists Premier League need to ‘put a chip in the ball’ to clear-up controversy, as ex-referee says officials were RIGHT to allow West Ham opener against Arsenal
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- Clattenburg added that a chip should be put in the ball to avoid uncertainty
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Mark Clattenburg has claimed that West Ham's opening goal in their 2-0 away win against Arsenal should be left standing because there was no conclusive evidence that the ball had gone out of bounds before Jarrod Bowen sent in a cross.
Tomas Soucek found the net in the 13th minute, with the goal awarded after a lengthy VAR check by referee Michael Oliver.
Former Premier League referee Clattenburg stated that a chip should be put in the ball to provide clarity in future situations.
Several TV replays could not categorically prove whether the ball had gone out of bounds.
Clattenburg stated that the initial decision on the field to award the goal should stand.
Mark Clattneburg says it was the right decision to leave West Ham's opener on
Tomas Soucek's goal stood despite uncertainty as to whether the ball was out yet
Replays of the incident failed to provide clear evidence as the ball was obscured by Bowen's thigh.
Clattenburg said on Amazon Prime: “There is no other decision the officials can make. The decision on the field is a goal.
'We can't be 100 percent sure that the ball went out of bounds.
'Since the ball must be clearly over the line, there is no conclusive evidence for this.'
“The other reference point they need is the ball, the ball is blocked by Bowen's thigh.
“If you have cameras upstairs, all you have to do is have a chip in the ball.”
Asked about the legitimacy of West Ham's first goal after the defeat, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told BBC's Match of the Day: 'It is what it is. The technology we have now is not clear enough when the ball is out of bounds.
'We dominated for a hundred minutes. When we had big situations, we had players completely free in the box.
'I think the players have put a lot of effort into it. It's a difficult locker room at the moment, but we have another game in 72 hours. This is football, we have to improve in certain areas.'
Ex-Premier League referee Clattenburg says a chip should be put in the ball
It is the second such incident involving Arsenal this season, with a goal conceded to Newcastle in November when Anthony Gordon found the net amid uncertainty over whether the ball had gone out of bounds before Joe Willock went over it.
West Ham put in a spirited first-half performance at the Emirates Stadium as they limited Arsenal's threat.
The Hammers doubled their lead through a header from former Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.
David Raya saved a late penalty from Said Benrahma.
