Blog

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Just hours after the final whistle, news emerged through briefings to the media that West Ham were to lodge an official complaint to PGMO, the refereeing body headed by Howard Webb.

This is almost always a performative act to deflect away from a result.

Nottingham Forest did it when current West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo was in charge at the City Ground. In fact, Forest have done it many times, under different managers.

Manchester United complained a couple of months ago when Amad Diallo didn’t get a penalty against Bournemouth. As did Tottenham. And Fulham, too.

On each occasion, the affected team did not win the match. In these specific cases, no mistake was logged by the key match incidents panel.

West Ham also said they would request the VAR audio of the incident, as though it is something which is kept from clubs.

Yet the VAR audio is routinely made available to clubs upon request.

The next edition of Match Officials Mic’d up airs on Tuesday, and it would be a surprise if this incident is not included.

Webb has not shied away from including the most high-profile of incidents, especially if they happen the day before the show is filmed.

We’ll all probably hear the VAR audio soon enough.