David Moyes in expletive-ridden referee confrontation after West Ham VAR controversy
David Moyes angrily confronted referee Andy Madley in the dressing room after the VAR controversy in West Ham’s defeat to Chelsea, according to one journalist.
Following the 1-1 draw with Tottenham at home, West Ham travelled to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday. And they took the lead in the 62nd minute when Michail Antonio managed to force the ball over the line from a Jarrod Bowen corner.
Chelsea got level with just under 15 minutes left when Ben Chilwell slipped the ball through the legs of Lukasz Fabianski.
And Thomas Tuchel’s side gave West Ham some serious work to do when Kai Havertz put them in front with just a few minutes remaining.
West Ham thought they had a dramatic equaliser as Maxwel Cornet fired into the top corner, following a defensive mix-up between Reece James and Edouard Mendy.
However, Madley was sent to the review screen by VAR official Jarred Gillett. And Madley then ruled West Ham’s goal out for Jarrod Bowen clipping Mendy just before Cornet’s finish.
Bowen tried to pull out of the challenge on the goalkeeper and this meant he only just touched his opponent with his trailing leg.
However, Madley’s decision saw the goal chalked off and this left Moyes, as well as West Ham supporters, furious.
David Moyes blasts Madley for VAR decision
According to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, Moyes ‘angrily confronted’ Madley in the dressing room after the final whistle.
He was ‘very, very unhappy’ with the goal being ruled out as it cost West Ham an impressive point away at Chelsea. The confrontation included ‘lots of expletives’ too, Crook claims.
Before this incident in the dressing room, Moyes let his feelings known to BBC Sport, during a post-match interview.
The manager said: “You have seen it, it is a scandalous decision, absolutely rotten from one of the supposedly elite referees.
“It doesn’t say much about whoever sent him over from VAR as well – it is an unbelievable decision against us.
“We feel we got back to 2-2 and it was not down to anything we have done. I support a lot of the VAR stuff, I actually think the goalkeeper dives. He is faking an injury because he cannot get to the next one.
“He did the same on the first goal as well. The referee somehow gets that so wrong it is incredible.”
Moyes could end up getting a fine for his dressing-room outburst at Madley, and for his post-match interview as well.
However, it is understandable that he is so frustrated with the decision. Bowen barely made contact with Mendy, and many would argue the goal should have stood.
To make matters worse for the FA, this wasn’t the only piece of VAR controversy in the Prem on Saturday. There were also examples in Newcastle’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace and Leeds’ 5-2 defeat at the hands of Brentford.
Meanwhile, Thiago Silva has revealed he wanted Chelsea to win the race for a new West Ham signing.
