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Football London
Football London
Sport
George Smith

'I miss football!' - West Ham fans blast VAR after penalty decision in Leeds United clash

West Ham United, not for the first time this season, were at the centre of yet more VAR controversy on Friday night during their Premier League tussle with Leeds United at Elland Road.

After suffering a 3-1 defeat at home to Manchester United last weekend, the Hammers travelled to West Yorkshire in the hope of getting back on track.

However, David Moyes' side were rocked inside the opening three minutes when referee Michael Oliver handed the home side a penalty after goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski brought down Patrick Bamford inside the penalty area.

As always, Whites midfield maestro Mateusz Klich stepped up and saw his low effort easily claimed by Fabianski.

But as Moyes and the West Ham players breathed a sigh of relief, VAR intervened and ordered for the penalty to be retaken, handing Klich the chance to redeem himself.

It was judged that Fabianski had one foot over the goal-line as Klich prepared to step-up. Replays showed that the Polish goalkeeper had got one foot over the line, but it was by the very narrowest of margins.

Nevertheless, the rules state that if such an event occurs then the spot-kick should be retaken.

Had the Premier League not had VAR in operation then Fabianski, of course, would have escaped any punishment and the game would have remained goalless. However, VAR, of course, does not miss a trick nowadays, meaning the penalty was retaken and Klich duly tucked the ball away.

As Leeds' players celebrated the opener, the Hammers supporters watching on TV at home raged at VAR's latest decision, blasting its work.

Here, football.london has taken a close look at how the Hammers' fans have reacted on social media...

Fortunately for West Ham, the incident did not dampen the players' spirits, as they have since battled back to draw level, equalising through Tomas Soucek's powerful header.

Soucek's strike against Leeds means he has now scored three times in his last five appearances and his second in as many games.

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