Leaked VAR Audio From Scrapped West Ham Goal Exposes Everything Wrong With Arsenal's Controversial Decisions

Referees' chief Howard Webb has defended the VAR decision to disallow West Ham United's late equalizer against Arsenal following an extended review that also examined several other incidents during the same play.

Callum Wilson netted in the fifth minute of added time and appeared to have secured a 1–1 draw for the Hammers—an outcome that would have handed Manchester City a lifeline in the title race—only for a foul on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya by West Ham's Pablo to be identified after a five-minute review.

"Is it a foul on the goalkeeper? Absolutely yes," Webb told Match Officials Mic'd Up.

"We've made clear throughout the season that if a goalkeeper is obstructed by an opponent grabbing or holding their arms, preventing them from doing their job, it will be penalized. We're not simply talking about any contact with goalkeepers—we're referring to a specific type of contact where the goalkeeper's arms or hands are interfered with, stopping them from performing their role.

"So when you see the best angle on this, you'll notice that's exactly what Pablo does. On the footage, it's clear and obvious, and it occurs early. Even though it isn't clear and obvious to the referee, given the large number of players crowded in the penalty area making it hard to spot, once the VAR identifies this, they absolutely have to intervene."

VAR Audio Highlights Regular Issue for Arsenal

For opposing supporters, watching Arsenal benefit from such a ruling was a significant source of irritation, with the Gunners widely known for pushing the limits of physical contact during their own set-piece situations.

That was apparent even within the Raya incident itself. Pablo, penalized for fouling the Arsenal goalkeeper, was simultaneously being held by Leandro Trossard, while Declan Rice's decision to grab Hammers defender Konstantinos Mavropanos also required examination by VAR.

VAR Transcript From Crucial Incident

VAR: It's literally just a possible foul on Raya, what I'm seeing in terms of that.

AVAR: And to make sure he doesn't have it in his hand.

VAR: For me, there is a foul, potential foul, with the arm. His hand is holding his arm down. That's impactful, for me. The left arm is holding, is across the body. He's across the head and he's holding the left arm of Raya, which impedes his ability to get to the ball properly.

VAR: It doesn't look that impactful from [an alternative] angle.

AVAR: You've got that [Rice on Mavropanos] straight behind him as well, look.

VAR: Yeah. But this happens before. Is it impactful on the goalkeeper that? Go back to the second angle you showed me. Give us a split screen.

AVAR: I don't like Trossard not facing the ball. I agree, it's impactful. It's just everything else that's going on as well. Let's say we're saying that's a foul, then what are we saying about Trossard's actions on the same player? What are we saying about Declan Rice behind?

VAR: He still gets a hand to the ball, doesn't he? When he's getting to the ball. I think, for me, we send [the referee] for an on-field review to look at the possible foul on the goalkeeper, and then we get him to look at the other incidents as well. I think that's the best decision in terms of this.

VAR: Chris [Kavanagh, referee], I'm going to recommend an on-field review for a possible foul on the goalkeeper, but there are some other incidents to look at while you're at the monitor as well.

VAR: The left arm of Pablo comes across Raya and holds on to the left arm of Raya as he goes to win the ball.

REF: I can see the clear holding on him across.

VAR: But then I'm just going to show you some other angles on that incident, of players.

AVAR: You've got Declan Rice and you've got Trossard.

REF: I don't know what you're trying to show me mate, give me a clue.

VAR: Trossard on Pablo. Just if you look at Trossard on Pablo ... give me a better angle on that.

REF: I don't think there's much in that at all, I'm happy with that. That's nothing.

VAR: O.K., and then if you just want to consider the actions of Declan Rice on Mavropanos at the back. But the foul happens on the goalkeeper before.

REF: Before it, so ... after review, West Ham number?