Erik ten Hag slams ‘unfair and unjust’ choice to award West Ham a penalty in Man United’s defeat – as he tells officers to point out ‘large persona’ when despatched to the monitor by VAR

Erik ten Hag slammed the injustice against Manchester United after a controversial stoppage-time penalty saw his side beaten by West Ham.

Casemiro thought he had earned a point for United when he headed in an equaliser in the 81st minute after Crysencio Summerville had given the Hammers the lead shortly before.

But Ten Hag and his players were left furious when referee David Coote awarded the hosts a penalty following a lengthy VAR review.

Matthijs de Ligt was adjudged to have fouled Danny Ings in the box, but the defender argued the striker had handled the ball in the build-up. 

Coote did not give a foul in real-time but was sent to the monitor and opted to overturn his original decision.

Erik ten Hag  slammed the injustice against Man United after a controversial late penalty

David Coote did not give a foul but was sent to the monitor and overturned his initial decision 

Casemiro thought he had earned a point for United when he headed in a late equaliser

Jarrod Bowen converted the spot-kick to give Julen Lopetegui‘s side only their third victory this season.

‘In football the best team does not always win, that was clear and obvious,’ a furious Ten Hag said.

‘Clear and obvious was not how VAR worked, they ruined their process. Three times this season we feel injustice.

‘Before the season, they explained the process of VAR and only when it’s clear and obvious is when they should interfere.

‘What they didn’t do against Spurs, where they should have interfered on Bruno [Fernandes] red card, they didn’t do it. 

‘Now they make the wrong decision interfering and both have a big impact on the games.’

The Premier League said VAR official Michael Oliver had deemed there to be significant contact on Ings’ lower leg and therefore recommended an on-field review.

Ten Hag was asked whether the fact it was a senior referee who had called for the review affected Coote’s decision to overturn his original call.

Crysencio Summerville had given the Hammers the lead after being introduced at half-time

Jarrod Bowen converted the spot-kick to give Julen Lopetegui ‘s side their third win this season

Ten Hag and his players were left furious when referee David Coote awarded the hosts a penalty following a lengthy VAR review

‘I don’t criticise any person, I criticise the process. Of course there are people that are running the process.

‘The off-field VAR was Michael Oliver. The on-field [referee] has to make a decision in the final moment. 

‘He took I think three minutes to decide and to make this call. But then you have to show big personality to ignore this decision that an experienced VAR [referee] has made.’