PGMOL has released the full audio and text from the dramatic final moments of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over West Ham, sparking fresh debate about VAR consistency.
This video shows the heated exchange between referee Chris Kavanagh, VAR Darren England, and assistant VAR Akil Howson over Callum Wilson’s disallowed 95th minute equaliser.
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VAR audio reveals disagreement over Arsenal vs West Ham disallowed goal
While officials are closely monitoring the target, audio captures AVAR Akil Howson repeatedly expressing concern about Leandro Trossard’s actions to West Ham’s Pablo Fornals.
While the VAR team initially focused on Pablo Fornals allegedly grabbing Raya’s arm, Howson pointed to a possible pre- or simultaneous error by Trossard.
“You have Declan Rice and you have it [Leandro] Trossard,” Howson said during the update (written by the Daily Mail).
Referee Chris Kavanagh replied: “I don’t know what you’re trying to show me, give me a clue.”
After being asked to weigh in on Trossard’s possible nudging of Fornals, Kavanagh dismissed the incident, saying: ‘I don’t think there’s much to it at all, I’m happy about that.’
The officials also reviewed Declan Rice’s possible foul on Konstantinos Mavropanos, but the focus was on the goalkeeper’s challenge. Kavanagh ended by saying: ‘But the mistake happened to the goalkeeper earlier.’
Howard Webb defends the referee’s decision in the Arsenal vs West Ham incident
These officials started to be criticized after the game, ‘the manager of West Ham saying that even the referees don’t know what is wrong’.
But PGMOL chief Howard Webb defended the procedure in Match Officials Mic’d Up, insisting that the clear and obvious mistake was to grab Raya’s arm.
He said: “Is it bad play by the goalkeeper?
“We have said throughout the season, including the calls of the players before the start of the season, that if a goalkeeper is blocked by his opponents who are holding or holding hands, then they will not be able to do their job and they will be punished.
“We’re not just talking about contact with the goalkeeper, we’re talking about some kind of contact when the goalkeeper’s arms or hands are interfered with, preventing them from doing their job.
“The important player in this moment, of course, is the goalkeeper, who has a unique ability to use his hands. And what we see in this situation, different from other situations around the penalty area is that the goalkeeper cannot do that job because of that clear action of the attacker, which prevents him from raising his arm.
“He was also caught from behind [Jean-Clair] Todibo. There are other pieces of communication for other players, for Arsenal players as well, but the most important communication is undoubtedly with the goalkeeper.
He stops him from making a good catch. The arm fell on his neck, it was on his arm. He can’t raise his arms, and we said we would punish him for that. And we have been consistent in that aspect. “
While Webb praised the officials for their process, leaked audio suggested a split within the VAR room, with Howson’s warnings about Trossard’s shoving ultimately dismissed by the man in the middle.
