Gary O’Neil unleashed a scathing critique of the call that denied Wolves a late equalizer, allowing West Ham to secure a 2-1 win on Saturday (6 April).

The match saw Pablo Sarabia converting a first-half penalty to give O’Neil’s team the lead at halftime. Lucas Paqueta added another spot-kick goal in the 72nd minute before James Ward-Prowse surprised with a direct corner kick conversion.

Max Kilman appeared to salvage a draw for Wolves at Molineux Stadium, nodding in a header from a corner deep into stoppage time. However, VAR intervened, disallowing the goal due to an offside ruling against Tawanda Chirewa.

In a post-match interview captured by Sky Sports at 5:47 pm on Saturday, O’Neil expressed his frustration, labelling the decision as “scandalous” and “terrible” from his perspective, David Moyes’ view, and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski’s vantage point.

O’Neil claimed no explanation was given by referee Tony Harrington and stated, “It’s one of the worst decisions I’ve ever witnessed.”

He further criticized the ruling, arguing that based on the evidence, there was no interference with the goalkeeper’s line of sight or movement, making the call unacceptable.

While controversy overshadowed the game, West Ham managed to secure a crucial victory despite the contentious decision. Manager David Moyes will be pleased to collect all three points, especially with the looming challenge of Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League.

Although luck played a part in Ward-Prowse’s peculiar corner goal, the win helped West Ham draw level on points with sixth-placed Manchester United in the Premier League standings.

Concerns linger over Jarrod Bowen’s injury, leaving fans anxious about his status for upcoming fixtures, particularly against the strong Leverkusen side.

Regardless of differing opinions on the VAR decision, West Ham’s triumph at Molineux Stadium propels them forward with momentum and belief as they approach the final stretch of the Premier League season.