West Ham: Ex-PL ref can't believe 'amazing' Ings injustice

By Keith Hackett

19th May, 2023 | 7:00am

Ex-Premier League referee can't believe 'amazing' Danny Ings injustice as West Ham footage analysed

Keith Hackett has claimed West Ham striker Danny Ings was denied a “perfectly good goal” during the 2-0 loss against Brentford on Sunday (14 May).

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed the VAR intervention was incorrect as Divin Mubamba’s hand was in a natural position in the build-up to the strike.

As seen in footage posted to YouTube by Sky Sports (14 May), Ings thought he had pulled back a late goal with West Ham trailing 2-0 away at Brentford.

However, replays showed Irons youngster Divin Mubama handled the ball in the build-up to the goal as it ricocheted back off the post.

VAR official Robert Jones recommended an on-pitch review to referee Michael Oliver, who disallowed the goal for handball.

Speaking post-match and quoted by the Ilford Observer, West Ham boss David Moyes claimed he was “amazed” to see the goal chalked off and branded the decision “very strange”.

Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “It was an accidental handball in the build-up.

“I think it’s a perfectly good goal. The attacker is trying to score a goal – his hand is not in an unnatural position.

“If it touches an arm or hand accidentally and a goal results, it’s disallowed. But this is before the ball is crossed in.

“I thought it was a good goal.”

In other news, West Ham £20m will seal Ligue 1 goal machine deal.