Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag voiced strong criticism of the Premier League’s Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system following his team’s narrow 2-1 defeat to West Ham. Frustrated with the penalty awarded to West Ham in the final minutes, Ten Hag questioned both the VAR officials and on-field referee David Coote, stating that they lacked the “personality” needed to make decisive calls.
The incident involved a clash between United defender Matthijs de Ligt and West Ham’s Danny Ings. Coote initially waved play on, but VAR official Michael Oliver intervened, advising Coote to review the incident, leading to the penalty call. Jarrod Bowen converted the penalty in the 92nd minute, handing United their fourth league defeat of the season.
According to the Premier League’s Match Centre, Oliver found enough contact on Ings’ leg to warrant a review, but Ten Hag was infuriated, feeling the ‘referee’s call’ rule—designed to uphold on-field decisions in marginal cases—was ignored. Many United fans, already feeling targeted by recent decisions, felt further aggrieved by Oliver’s intervention, believing it unfairly tilted the game in West Ham’s favor at a critical moment.
In a visibly frustrated tone, Ten Hag stated, “Football doesn’t always play out fairly, and today was proof of that. VAR is intended to step in only for clear and obvious errors, which wasn’t the case here. We’ve been told VAR interference should be limited to blatant mistakes, yet here we are with a reversal that cost us the match. This isn’t the first time, either—it’s becoming a pattern. Against Spurs, VAR didn’t step in on a vital decision that hurt us, but now, it interferes with a call that’s not even clear-cut.”
Ten Hag clarified that his frustration wasn’t directed at individual referees but at the VAR system itself. He criticized the lengthy review process, noting that Coote took three minutes to reach a decision. “In such high-pressure situations, it’s essential to have the courage to stick with the correct call. The VAR process needs refinement, and the officials handling it must be prepared to make bold decisions when it matters,” he added.
Manchester United’s ongoing struggles in front of goal compounded the disappointment of the loss. Diogo Dalot missed an open chance, and the team struck the crossbar twice, wasting multiple clear opportunities during the first half. Substitute Crysencio Summerville had put West Ham ahead in the 74th minute, and despite United’s relentless attacking efforts, they couldn’t find the equalizer. With just eight goals from nine league games and a negative goal difference, United’s finishing issues are now a significant concern for Ten Hag.
Reflecting on the missed opportunities, Ten Hag noted, “We played some excellent football, especially in the first half, showing the dominance and fluidity I expect from my team. We controlled possession, built our attacks well, broke through the lines, and created clear chances. I counted six or seven chances that we should have scored. The finishing was lacking, but the quality of play was there. When you create that many quality chances, you have to remain calm and trust that the goals will come.”
Despite his frustration with the officiating, Ten Hag remained hopeful about his team’s overall performance. “Aside from our finishing, I have few complaints about how we played. Our issue is composure in front of goal. If we stay patient and keep pushing, the goals will come. Consistency and composure are our way forward.”
As the season continues, the pressure is mounting on Ten Hag with United’s rocky start. This contentious defeat to West Ham has only intensified scrutiny around the team. Nevertheless, Ten Hag is confident that with time, his squad’s play will yield the results needed, provided they capitalize on their dominance and convert it into goals and wins.
