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Latest reports from multiple media outlets, including renowned The Times journalist Gary Jacob, confirm that West Ham United will file an official appeal with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) over their disallowed equalising goal.
The decision not only pushes West Ham closer to the relegation zone but also hands Arsenal a major advantage in the Premier League title race.
At the London Stadium, referee Chris Kavanagh spent a total of 4 minutes and 17 seconds awarding a foul against David Raya, shortly before Callum Wilson scored what West Ham believed was a stoppage-time equaliser. After being instructed to check the VAR replay, the referee reviewed the footage 17 times.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised the decision as "brave", while West Ham argue that such a lengthy deliberation means the incident was not an obvious error and did not meet the standard for VAR intervention.
The club also intends to ask PGMOL, the body responsible for elite match officials, to release audio recordings of the conversation between the on-field referee and VAR official Darren England during the critical incident.
A 1-1 draw would have allowed Manchester City to return to the top of the Premier League table after their midweek game against Crystal Palace, whilst also enabling West Ham to draw level with Tottenham Hotspur in the relegation battle.
Instead, Leandro Trossard scored a deflected winner seven minutes from full time, pushing Arsenal five points clear at the summit. It marked Arsenal’s seventh 1-0 victory of the season. Should they beat Burnley next Monday and overcome Crystal Palace on the final matchday, Arsenal will lift the league title for the first time in 22 years.
Additionally, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made a crucial save to deny substitute Pablo Fornals when the score remained goalless.
Players from both sides witnessed referee Chris Kavanagh being called over to review footage by VAR official Darren England.
Notably, Darren England has been appointed as the referee for the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium this Saturday. Chris Kavanagh ruled that Pablo Fornals pulled David Raya’s arm before Wilson found the net, impeding the goalkeeper’s movement. Raya immediately appealed to the referee.
Arteta praised the consistency of the refereeing decision, despite his frequent past criticism of VAR rulings, including complaints over decisions involving Newcastle United and Atlético Madrid in the past two weeks.
Former Premier League referee Peter Walton also shared his analysis:
(The following is his editorial published in The Times)
The VAR decision to award a foul against David Raya was correct.
At the moment of the incident, referee Chris Kavanagh could only see a chaotic scramble inside a crowded penalty area. With multiple players packed tightly together, the on-field official had little time to assess exactly what had happened.
The foul occurred when West Ham’s Pablo Fornals stretched his left arm across Raya’s arm and shoulder. This physical contact restricted Raya’s movement, prevented him from competing for the ball effectively, and stopped him from making a clean play on the ball.
When viewing alternative VAR camera angles, particularly the wide sideline perspective, the incident becomes perfectly clear. Under Law 12, pulling an opponent or using physical contact to block their movement constitutes a foul. The threshold for a foul was clearly met in this case.
Many fans may question why similar physical contact between outfield players often goes unpunished. The answer lies in the special status of goalkeepers. Their jumping mechanics differ as they attempt to catch or punch the ball, and their arm positioning during matches is also unique.
Referees typically allow a degree of physical confrontation between outfield players contesting for position, given their matched physical conditions. However, the threshold is far lower for goalkeepers; any obstruction to their arm movement can severely hinder their ability to perform their duties.
VAR official Darren England deserves credit for his courage and insight in intervening in the match. Equally commendable is Chris Kavanagh’s willingness to follow the VAR recommendation and overturn his initial on-field judgment.