West Ham United faced a disappointing defeat against Chelsea, a match that sparked controversy over a denied penalty that left talkSPORT commentator Sam Matterface astounded.
The Hammers found themselves trailing 2-0 early in the game but appeared to have a chance to mount a comeback when Crysencio Summerville was seemingly fouled by Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana inside the box. Summerville, who joined West Ham from Leeds for over £25 million during the summer transfer window, was played through into the penalty area. As he advanced, Fofana grabbed his arm, causing him to go down.
Despite the clear appeal from West Ham, on-field referee Sam Barrott dismissed the claims. The incident was reviewed by VAR, yet the decision stood, with Barrott not even being instructed to check the pitchside monitor. The Premier League Match Centre later confirmed via their X account that the VAR review deemed the contact not to be “sustained holding.”
During the talkSPORT coverage of the match, the commentators expressed their disbelief at the decision. Ashton remarked, “Fofana has got hold of him, he’s got hold of his arm, there’s no doubt about that. The question is whether the officials believe it was enough for Summerville to be twisting and falling to the ground as he did.”
Matterface countered emphatically, stating, “That’s a penalty. I’ll be absolutely gobsmacked if this isn’t overturned here. Surely the referee is going to be told to look at the monitor… but it seems like he’s not interested.” His frustration mirrored that of his co-commentators, who questioned how the on-field referee could overlook such a significant call.
Dean added, “How can the referee not go and look at that? This is really frustrating. Even in real-time, it was evident that Fofana had a hold of Summerville’s arm.”
After hearing the Premier League’s explanation, the pundits remained skeptical. Ashton questioned the definition of “sustained,” asking, “How long do you have to hold onto a player for it to be considered sustained?” He noted that Summerville’s movement to the ground was not a natural reaction.
Matterface echoed this sentiment, asking, “What on earth constitutes ‘sustained’ holding?” Their exchange highlighted the ambiguity in the refereeing standards and VAR decisions.
The match got off to a rough start for West Ham, with Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson scoring twice in the first 14 minutes. As the second half progressed, Cole Palmer added a third goal for Chelsea, sealing a 3-0 victory. This win marked Chelsea’s third victory in their first five Premier League matches, where they have scored a total of 11 goals. In contrast, West Ham remains in the lower half of the league table, struggling with just one win to their name so far this season.
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As the debate over the penalty decision continues, it reflects broader concerns about officiating consistency in the Premier League, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning the reliability of VAR and referee judgments.