🚨 Mateu Lahoz (retired Spanish referee) on West Ham’s disallowed equaliser against Arsenal:
🗣️ “I watched the replay many times and for me, that goal should have stood. Raya was never fully in control of the ball in any situation. If I was the referee, there is no chance I’m disallowing that goal.
When you are fighting relegation, one decision like this can change everything for a club. Players work the whole season for moments and points like these.
And maybe the referee also had pressure in his mind. Arsenal are fighting for the Premier League and perhaps nobody wanted the headlines if that goal changed the title race or helped Manchester City again.
Football is becoming too clinical. Sometimes the game needs common sense more than five-minute VAR reviews.”
🚨🎙️ Roy Keane on West Ham’s disallowed goal for a foul on Arsenal’s Goalkeeper David Raya
"I tell ya what, that VAR decision is a complete and utter disgrace – an absolute joke!
All season long Arsenal have been crowding the goalkeeper on set-pieces, pushing, shoving, blocking – it’s been their main tactic from day one. We saw it clear as day against us at Old Trafford when Saliba backed straight into Bayindir, stopped him from making a proper save, and they nicked a goal through Calafiori. Nothing given. Not a murmur. But now, in a massive title-deciding match against West Ham, when it doesn’t suit them... suddenly it’s a foul on Raya? Are you kidding me?
What the hell are we even watching in this league anymore? It’s shameless, it’s embarrassing. At this rate just hand the title and the trophy over to Arsenal now, because it’s glaringly obvious what they’re trying to pull. Total, utter disgrace."
🚨🎙️| Joe Hart on West Ham’s disallowed equalizer vs Arsenal, accuses VAR of saving Arsenal’s title hopes:
🗣️“Listen, I don’t care what anyone says, that goal should’ve stood. VAR has absolutely ruined moments like that. West Ham fought for that equalizer and somehow they’ve found a way to disallow it for the softest little touch you’ll ever see. If that’s Arsenal scoring at the Emirates, nobody even checks it for more than five seconds.
And this is what frustrates fans, Arsenal have lived off those scrappy, aggressive goals all season. Blocking keepers, crowding the six-yard box, little nudges here and there… suddenly when it happens against them, it’s ‘clear and obvious.’ Give me a break.
I was a goalkeeper, I know when a keeper’s genuinely impeded and when he’s looking for help. There’s no way you can tell me that was enough contact for the goal to be overturned. The game’s gone soft. West Ham have been robbed, simple as that.
You wonder why fans think certain clubs get favourable decisions because moments like this keep happening. Arsenal are in a title race and somehow every 50/50 call seems to land their way. That equalizer changes the whole atmosphere of the game and VAR bottled it. Absolutely bottled it.”
Poland got 17 points in their group before the playoffs then go out to a side who finished bottom of their group with 0 wins.
Sweden only got into the playoffs because of performances in the Nations League 2 years ago. What a shambles
In addition, Sweden qualified to playoffs after playing in NL against Slovakia, Estonia and Azerbaijan. To compare, Poland played against Portugal Croatia and Scotland, 3 nations which qualified to WC by taking 1st place in elimination group. This system is totally unfair.
The Game is gone.
Arsenal football club:
— Founded 140 years ago and have never won the Champions League yet their fans think they’re an elite European club.
— Last won the league cup 33 years ago.
— Last won the league 22 years ago.
— Last won the Fa Cup 6 years ago.
— Never won the UEFA Super Cup.
— Never won the FIFA Club World Cup.
— Never Won the UEFA Champions League.
— Never Won the UEFA Europa League.
They will forever be banter FC.