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Football London
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Daniel Hargraves

Match of the Day's Alan Shearer provides scathing verdict on VAR following disallowed West Ham goal

Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer provided a scathing verdict on the use of VAR at Stamford Bridge on Saturday where West Ham were denied a late equaliser in their 2-1 defeat against London rivals Chelsea.

The Hammers took the lead just after the hour mark when Michail Antonio tapped home from close range as captain Declan Rice took advantage of poor goalkeeping from Blues stopper Edouard Mendy.

However, finishes from Ben Chilwell and Kai Harvertz turned the game around for the west London outfit before their east London counterparts felt they should have had a valid equaliser from summer signing Maxwell Cornet.

READ MORE: West Ham prepare Premier League meeting after 'disgraceful' Chelsea VAR outrage

Referee Andrew Madley was recommended by the video assistant referee to look at his monitor as Jarrod Bowen looked to have made contact with Mendy who parried the ball into the path of Cornet to finish. The contact was deemed to be a foul and therefore the goal didn't stand, and Shearer had some strong words on the decision.

"Before we start Gary [Lineker]," Shearer started on Saturday evening's Match of the Day. "Minimal interference, maximum benefit was what we were told when VAR was brought in. This decision we're about to see is as bad a decision as you're gonna see at least for half an hour before we see Newcastle [laughs].

"They're told to stay out of it, the VAR Jarred Gillett [the VAR official], there's no need to get involved in this, this is never ever ever a foul. And I don't think anyone at the game who has played the game will agree with the VAR Jarred Gillett and the referee Andy Madley.

"The keeper goes down because he realises he's made a rick, Bowen is trying to get over him and actually steps over him, doesn't interfere with him whatsoever. We saw Michael Oliver when he went over to the monitor to stick to his decision [in Bournemouth's win vs Nottingham Forest], why doesn't he [Madley] stick to his decision?

"It's a terrible, disgraceful decision. It is beyond terrible. Players and managers and football clubs have been let down today, it's a terrible day and as we said, we've still got to discuss other decisions."

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