Mon Oct 28 13:25:41 UTC 2024: ## Ten Hag Outraged as VAR Decision Costs United in Controversial Loss to West Ham

Manchester United suffered a painful 2-1 defeat at West Ham after a late penalty decision sparked outrage from manager Erik ten Hag. The Red Devils dominated possession and missed numerous chances, but a controversial penalty awarded to West Ham in the dying minutes of the game proved decisive.

The penalty was awarded after VAR intervened to review a challenge by Matthijs de Ligt on Danny Ings. Referee David Coote initially waved away the appeals, but after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor, he pointed to the spot, igniting protests from United players who believed Ings had handled the ball prior to the challenge.

Ten Hag expressed his frustration at the decision, calling it “unjust” and “not right,” stating that it felt like the third time this season his team had been unfairly impacted by officials. “That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the on-field referee,” he told BBC’s Match of the Day.

While West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui defended the decision, stating he hadn’t seen the incident but trusted the referee and players, Ten Hag remains adamant that the decision was incorrect. He added that he had spoken to the officials after the game but emphasized that the decision was made and there was “no way back.”

United’s inability to capitalize on their dominance was a recurring theme in the match. Despite creating numerous chances, they struggled to convert and ultimately fell to their fourth Premier League defeat of the season.

The result leaves United in 13th place with just three wins from their opening nine games. They have also struggled in the Europa League, collecting only three points from their first three games.

With pressure mounting on Ten Hag, former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown commented that “things cannot continue like this.” The question now is whether United will back their manager amidst this difficult period. While the club has previously stated their support for Ten Hag, their silence following this latest defeat speaks volumes.

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