‘Like basketball’ – Soucek criticizes ‘absurd’ penalty call

West Ham’s Tough Loss

West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek expressed his frustrations after their critical defeat to Nottingham Forest, likening the Premier League to basketball due to what he deemed an “absurd” late penalty decision against his team.

The contentious moment arose when VAR intervened following a collision between West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and Morgan Gibbs-White while Areola was attempting to intercept a cross.

Soucek noted that he managed to clear the ball just before it reached the goalkeeper or Gibbs-White, drawing a parallel to basketball, where even minimal contact is scrutinized.

The resulting penalty, converted by Gibbs-White in the 89th minute, sealed a 2-1 defeat for West Ham, leaving them seven points away from safety.

“For me, it’s ridiculous. I just reviewed it again and under those circumstances, we might as well give out 20 penalties in each match,” Soucek commented to Sky Sports.

He added, “I joined the Premier League under the impression it was the toughest league globally, with players characterized as fighters and warriors. However, at this point, it feels more like a basketball match where physical contact is restricted.”

Areola himself was confused about the call, stating, “He [Soucek] was uncertain about who was fouled. He was going for the ball, and I believe I cleared it before it went out. We were all left wondering why VAR was even consulted before the penalty decision.”

A Series of Disappointments

In the course of the match, West Ham had a goal disallowed for offside whilst they were leading 1-0. Head referee Tony Harrington, who did not initially award a penalty, later announced to the audience, “Upon review, the goalkeeper fouled Nottingham Forest’s no. 10. My final ruling is a penalty kick.”

West Ham’s manager Nuno Espirito Santo, himself a former goalkeeper, agreed, stating, “You cannot stop your momentum when you’re going for the ball — it has a path and trajectory. This kind of situation often happens and results in no call. In my time, it definitely shouldn’t have been awarded.”

He also asserted, “We must respect the officials and strive to move forward. I stand by my belief that it was not a penalty.” As a result of this match, West Ham has gone without a victory in their last ten league outings, but Nuno urged his players to “keep the faith” as they strive to maintain their Premier League status in the upcoming games.

‘If you get nowhere near the ball, you’re in trouble’ – Analysis

When judging goalkeeper challenges, a common principle prevails: if the keeper touches the ball, they are more likely to receive leniency. It’s often the case that incidental contact with an attacking player’s head won’t lead to a penalty.

However, if a goalkeeper makes no attempt to play the ball and instead makes contact with an opposing player, they risk facing consequences. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, goalkeeper leniency has decreased. A notable incident occurred when VAR overlooked an obvious foul during a match between Manchester United and Wolves, leading the officiating crew to be replaced in subsequent games.

The following matches have seen similar scenarios where goalkeepers like Andre Onana were penalized after failing to touch the ball, showcasing a strict adherence to enforcing the rules.