Former Premier League-winning goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has criticized the decision to disallow Arsenal’s equalizer against West Ham on Sunday, asserting that it was incorrect and that similar calls have benefited Arsenal in the past.
It appeared that Mikel Arteta’s side would secure a point after Callum Wilson’s late effort crossed the line. However, after a lengthy VAR review and a visit to the monitor, referee Chris Kavanagh overturned the decision.
Schmeichel, who enjoyed five title wins with Manchester United and concluded his career at Manchester City, mocked the decision to award a free-kick to the opposing team. He expressed his frustration during a post-match interview with Swedish broadcaster Viaplay.
“What really angers me is that Arsenal wouldn’t be at the top of the league if that’s considered a free-kick,” he stated.
“They’ve scored so many goals by blocking and holding players, among other tactics,” he continued. “Now, it takes VAR… five minutes. The repeated reviews introduce so much doubt into the decision that it cannot possibly warrant a free-kick.”
“I find it completely unjust. I don’t see how it suddenly becomes a free-kick, especially when that hasn’t been the case for other teams throughout the season. There are so many levels on which this is wrong.”
Support for Kavanagh’s Decision
In contrast, former Premier League stars Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney supported Kavanagh’s ruling, with Shearer primarily highlighting the need for consistency in officiating.
“Some might see it as a foul while others won’t, but the real question is, where is the consistency? We see incidents like this every week,” he mentioned on The Rest is Football podcast.
“I believe it was a foul, but I also question why VAR didn’t intervene in the incident involving Bernardo Silva and Everton last week, where similar holding was called.”
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Shearer added, “We keep discussing this issue, and the reviews take far too long. I acknowledge the significance of the decisions, but every decision holds equal weight.”
Wayne Rooney, speaking on his show, remarked, “It’s a clear foul. It’s evident that the arm crosses [Raya’s] face and impacts his ability to play the ball. Therefore, I think the decision is correct. This is one instance where I believe VAR has done an excellent job in such a crucial match.”
Information from PA was included in this report.