Former Premier League referee, Mark Clattenburg, has claimed that Tottenham’s first goal against West Ham should have been disallowed for a handball against Davinson Sanchez.
Tomas Soucek provided Spurs with the lead in the second-half via an own-goal, however, Clattenburg believes VAR should have denied Spurs this opening advantage (BBC).
Despite being reviewed by VAR, Clattenburg claims the ball brushed the arm of Sanchez before being turned into Soucek’s own goal.
Although Clattenburg insists the ‘handball’ was not deliberate, it was enough to disallow the goal, in his opinion.
Writing for the Daily Mail, Clattenburg said: “When you look at one camera angle from behind the goal, it’s not evident that the ball touches Davinson Sanchez’s arm en route to Soucek.”
“But another angle, from towards the corner flag, shows the slightest touch which diverts it towards Soucek, who had no time to react.
“The law states that if you gain an advantage in this situation then the goal should be disallowed. We’ve seen similar incidents to this previously.”
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Spurs had already had a goal disallowed in the first-half for a narrow offside against Heung-min Son, courtesy of VAR.
Despite the frustration of the first-half, Spurs came out for the second 45 minutes as a much more dangerous side with Harry Kane sealing the win with a late strike.
The victory took Spurs just one point behind fifth-placed Manchester United, however, the Red Devils have a game in hand against Sheffield United to play.
Spurs Web Opinion
I think it is very hard to determine from the angles provided whether it did actually brush his arm. Anyway, it went to VAR, it was reviewed and the decision of a goal was given – that’ll do for us.
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