Ex-Premier League referee delivers damning verdict of Man Utd penalty decision

A former referee is adamant that should not have been awarded a late penalty during their victory over Manchester United. Mark Halsey, who retired from officiating in 2013, was not impressed with David Coote changing his original decision following a VAR review.

Coote initially waved away protests from West Ham players after Matthijs de Ligt tangled with Danny Ings in the area. Following a VAR intervention, he was asked to view the incident on the monitor and ended up giving the penalty, which Jarrod Bowen scored.

Halsey believes United were incredibly unfortunate to fall on the wrong side of the decision, which saw them slip to a 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium.

Writing in his column for , he said: "It is a contact sport. This should never be enough for a foul. Coote had a great view and he was initially spot on not to award a penalty.

"Referees' chief Howard Webb does not want VAR intervening with subjective calls that are not clear and obvious. This was a classic case of that. The incident was re-refereed.

"VAR Michael Oliver recommended a pitch-side review, then Coote crumbled and changed his decision, like so many other referees do in that situation."

United boss confronted the officials after the final whistle and branded the decision an 'injustice' when quizzed on the penalty incident in his post-match interview.

"Three times this season we feel injustice," . "Unfair and unjust the way we conceded the penalty. It was so difficult to see.

"Before the season there was the instruction about VAR only interfering in clear and obvious mistakes. That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the on-field referee. More frustrations but I can do nothing with that. They don't collect points and that's what we have to do.

"We have to look in the mirror, we don't score in a good game from our side. Create loads of chances and concede none but when you lose in this way it's a bad feeling."

Asked if he had received an explanation from the officials, Ten Hag added: "I spoke with them but the decision is made. There's no way back and that's football.

"That's a third time I have felt injustice in the season and it has a big impact on our team and on our scores and where we are in the table. It's not right."