West Ham penalty an ‘injustice’, says Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag
- Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expressed disappointment over a late penalty awarded to West Ham United during their match on October 27, 2024.
- The penalty was awarded after Matthijs de Ligt was deemed to have fouled Max Kilman, resulting in Jarrod Bowen scoring the winning goal for West Ham in the 92nd minute.
- Ten Hag criticized the VAR process and remarked on the impact such decisions have had on his team's performance and league position.
On October 27, 2024, Manchester United clashed with West Ham United in a Premier League match held at the London Stadium. The game saw a dramatic conclusion when a penalty was awarded to West Ham in the dying minutes. Matthijs de Ligt was judged to have fouled Max Kilman, leading to Jarrod Bowen stepping up to convert the penalty, securing a 2-1 victory for the home side. This decision sparked significant controversy, especially from Manchester United's manager, Erik ten Hag. Post-match, Ten Hag expressed his deep disappointment with the late penalty award, describing it as an 'injustice.' He believed the decision was unfair and could greatly affect his team's morale and position in the league standings. He highlighted that his team had created numerous chances throughout the match, particularly in the first half, and felt they were deserving of a different outcome. Additionally, Ten Hag criticized the VAR process, stating that the system was intended to intervene only in 'clear and obvious' situations. He mentioned previous instances where he felt similar injustices occurred, calling into question the consistency and reliability of VAR in crucial match moments. As Manchester United prepares for their next match against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup, the team must regroup and focus on improving their performance amidst the ongoing challenges presented by officiating decisions in the league.