Tottenham’s James Maddison has said referees and video assistant referees have had an “absolute shocker of a start” to the Premier League season.
Maddison, who is out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, posted his criticism on X after Cristian Romero’s goal in Spurs’ 3-0 win against West Ham was ruled out.
The Tottenham captain thought he had opened the scoring at London Stadium on Saturday before referee Jarred Gillett blew his whistle for an apparent foul on Kyle Walker-Peters by Micky van de Ven just beforehand.
VAR John Brooks briefly checked the incident before upholding Gillett’s decision.
“The referee’s call of no goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Van de Ven pushed Walker-Peters in the back and impacted his ability to play the ball,” the Premier League Match Centre posted on X moments later.
Replays appeared to show that West Ham’s goalkeeper Mads Hermansen had pushed Mateus Fernandes into the back of Van de Ven, who was then forced into Walker-Peters.
In response to the decision, Maddison said: “Honestly the referees and VAR have had an absolute shocker of a start to the season.
“If that goal is disallowed for a foul you will never ever see a corner be taken without [the] referee blowing for something ever again.”
Former Wales centre-back Ashley Williams agreed with Maddison, saying Romero’s goal should have stood.
“West Ham’s goalkeeper pushes his own player into Micky Van der Ven, who then collides with Kyle Walker-Peters but the Tottenham player didn’t initiate that contact. We’ve watched it back numerous times and you can see he doesn’t push Walker-Peters over.”” Williams said.
“The referee’s given the decision on the field and because of that, VAR is reluctant to intervene but that’s what they’re there for. We’d like to see more goals given and it’s the wrong decision, which is frustrating.”
Fortunately for Thomas Frank, goals from Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Van de Ven ensured Spurs beat 10-man West Ham.
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