Premier League – West Ham files complaint after goal against Arsenal is disallowed

West Ham United are reportedly set to lodge a complaint with the refereeing body, Professional Game Match Officials, after VAR denied a late equalizer against Arsenal due to a foul on David Raya during their 2025/26 Premier League match on Sunday.

Relegation-threatened West Ham thought they had saved a valuable point against the league leaders when Callum Wilson equalized in stoppage time after Raya had dropped the ball.

But the goal was disallowed by referee Chris Kavanagh, after a lengthy review during which he was advised to consult the pitch monitor due to a foul by Pablo on Reya.

The decision meant that Leandro Trossard’s 82nd minute goal ultimately proved enough for Arsenal to secure a 1–0 win, moving them five points clear at the top of the table and leaving London rivals West Ham in the bottom three with just two games to play.

West Ham were furious with the decision and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen believes the pushing and shoving at corners has become a major problem in the league.

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“If you ask any goalkeeper in the league if he has been illegally blocked, pulled and pushed this season, I don’t think you will find anyone who hasn’t experienced it,” Hermansen said.

«So to say this (decision against West Ham): I’m not sure I understand why. Of course we looked at it afterwards, and we can see that there are shirt pulls on (Konstantinos) Mavropanos, shirt pulls on (Tomas) Soucek, and even shirt pulls on Pablo before the goal. So to choose this situation,» he added.

The 25-year-old Denmark international made it clear he accepted Raya was obstructed but questioned why other similar incidents had not been punished in the same way.

«You know, I agree that it is a foul. You can certainly insult the goalkeeper. But with what has been given this season in terms of goals with illegal blocks, illegal pulling and pushing and the like on goalkeepers, I don’t understand why that is being given. That’s all,» Hermansen said.

«I spoke to David after the match and I think we have had the same experience in this area this season. Because of course he has every right to demand a free kick or a foul on him. But I think this season you can encounter many situations where it has been different,» he noted.

Published on May 11, 2026